| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to transportation; amending s. 120.80, |
| 3 | F.S., relating to rulemaking; exempting the adjustment of |
| 4 | tolls under specified provisions from provisions requiring |
| 5 | a statement of estimated regulatory costs and a |
| 6 | requirement for legislative ratification; amending s. |
| 7 | 316.091, F.S.; prohibiting use of human-powered vehicles |
| 8 | on limited access highways and bridges; requiring the |
| 9 | Department of Transportation to establish a pilot program |
| 10 | to open certain limited access highways and bridges to |
| 11 | bicycles and other human-powered vehicles; providing |
| 12 | requirements for the pilot program; authorizing the |
| 13 | department to continue or expand the program after the end |
| 14 | of the pilot period; requiring a report to the Governor |
| 15 | and the Legislature; amending s. 316.302, F.S.; exempting |
| 16 | operators of farm labor vehicles from certain safety |
| 17 | regulations under certain circumstances; amending s. |
| 18 | 331.303, F.S.; defining "spaceport launch support |
| 19 | facilities"; amending s. 334.03, F.S.; revising |
| 20 | definitions for purposes of the Florida Transportation |
| 21 | Code; amending s. 334.044, F.S.; revising the powers and |
| 22 | duties of the department relating to jurisdictional |
| 23 | responsibility and designating facilities; revising the |
| 24 | types of transportation projects for which landscaping |
| 25 | materials must be purchased; limiting the amount of funds |
| 26 | that may be allocated for such purchases; revising the |
| 27 | department's duties related to agreements with Space |
| 28 | Florida; amending s. 334.047, F.S.; removing a provision |
| 29 | prohibiting the department from establishing a maximum |
| 30 | number of miles of urban principal arterial roads within a |
| 31 | district or county; amending s. 336.021, F.S.; revising |
| 32 | the date when imposition of the ninth-cent fuel tax is to |
| 33 | be levied; amending s. 336.025, F.S.; revising the dates |
| 34 | when impositions or rate changes of the local option fuel |
| 35 | tax are to be levied and when counties must notify the |
| 36 | Department of Revenue of such rates or rate changes; |
| 37 | revising the definition of "transportation expenditures"; |
| 38 | amending s. 337.111, F.S.; providing additional forms of |
| 39 | security for the cost of removal of monuments or memorials |
| 40 | or modifications to an installation site at highway rest |
| 41 | areas; removing a provision requiring renewal of a bond; |
| 42 | amending ss. 337.403 and 337.404, F.S.; revising |
| 43 | provisions for alleviation of interference with a public |
| 44 | road or publically owned rail corridor caused by a utility |
| 45 | facility; requiring the utility owner to initiate and |
| 46 | complete the work necessary within a certain time period; |
| 47 | providing for notice to the utility; revising provisions |
| 48 | for payment of costs; revising provisions for completion |
| 49 | of work when the utility owner does not perform the work; |
| 50 | amending s. 337.408, F.S.; revising provisions for certain |
| 51 | facilities installed within the right-of-way limits of |
| 52 | roads; requiring counties and municipalities to indemnify |
| 53 | the department from certain claims relating to the |
| 54 | installation, removal, or relocation of a noncompliant |
| 55 | bench or shelter; authorizing the department to direct a |
| 56 | county or municipality to remove or relocate a bus stop, |
| 57 | bench, transit shelter, waste disposal receptacle, public |
| 58 | pay telephone, or modular news rack that is not in |
| 59 | compliance with applicable laws or rules; directing the |
| 60 | department to remove or relocate such installation and |
| 61 | charge the cost to the county or municipality; authorizing |
| 62 | the department to deduct the cost from funding available |
| 63 | to the municipality or county from the department; |
| 64 | removing a provision for the replacement of an unusable |
| 65 | transit bus bench that was in service before a certain |
| 66 | date; revising the title of chapter 338, F.S.; repealing |
| 67 | s. 338.001, F.S., relating to provisions for the Florida |
| 68 | Intrastate Highway System Plan; amending s. 338.01, F.S.; |
| 69 | including authority of the department in provisions for |
| 70 | the establishment of limited access facilities; amending |
| 71 | s. 339.155, F.S.; revising provisions for statewide |
| 72 | transportation planning by the department; providing for |
| 73 | federally required transportation planning factors; |
| 74 | revising provisions for the Florida Transportation Plan; |
| 75 | removing requirements that the plan include a long-range |
| 76 | component and a short-range component; removing certain |
| 77 | reporting requirements; revising requirements for public |
| 78 | participation in the planning process; amending s. |
| 79 | 339.175, F.S.; providing that representatives of the |
| 80 | department shall serve as nonvoting advisers to a |
| 81 | metropolitan planning organization; authorizing the |
| 82 | appointment of additional nonvoting advisers; amending s. |
| 83 | 339.63, F.S.; providing for inclusion of certain access |
| 84 | facilities in the Strategic Intermodal System and the |
| 85 | Emerging Strategic Intermodal System; amending s. 339.64, |
| 86 | F.S.; revising provisions for development of the Strategic |
| 87 | Intermodal System Plan; removing the Statewide Intermodal |
| 88 | Transportation Advisory Council; creating s. 339.65, F.S.; |
| 89 | providing for the department to plan and develop Strategic |
| 90 | Intermodal System highway corridors; providing for |
| 91 | allocations of funds on a specified basis; providing for |
| 92 | corridor projects to be included in the department's |
| 93 | adopted work program and changes to be a separate part of |
| 94 | the tentative work program; amending s. 341.302, F.S.; |
| 95 | providing for construction of safety measures along |
| 96 | passenger rail corridors and improvements at intermodal |
| 97 | stations; amending s. 348.0003, F.S.; revising financial |
| 98 | disclosure requirements for certain transportation |
| 99 | authorities; amending s. 349.03, F.S.; providing for |
| 100 | financial disclosure requirements for the Jacksonville |
| 101 | Transportation Authority; amending s. 349.04, F.S.; |
| 102 | providing that the Jacksonville Transportation Authority |
| 103 | may conduct meetings and workshops using communications |
| 104 | media technology; providing that certain actions may not |
| 105 | be taken unless a quorum is present in person; providing |
| 106 | that members must be physically present to vote on any |
| 107 | item; amending s. 373.413, F.S.; providing legislative |
| 108 | intent regarding flexibility in the permitting of |
| 109 | stormwater management systems; requiring the cost of |
| 110 | stormwater treatment for a transportation project to be |
| 111 | balanced with benefits to the public; absolving the |
| 112 | Department of Transportation of responsibility for the |
| 113 | abatement of pollutants entering its stormwater facilities |
| 114 | from offsite sources and from updating permits for |
| 115 | adjacent lands impacted by right-of-way acquisition; |
| 116 | authorizing the water management districts and the |
| 117 | Department of Environmental Protection to adopt rules; |
| 118 | creating s. 479.075, F.S.; defining the terms "sign" and |
| 119 | "sign permit fee"; establishing limitations on fees |
| 120 | charged for sign permits; requiring a fee schedule to be |
| 121 | based on actual costs; providing that the fee may not |
| 122 | exceed certain costs; requiring the local government |
| 123 | maintain information to justify certain costs; providing |
| 124 | that specified provisions do not apply to certain signs; |
| 125 | providing for effect with respect to any agreement, |
| 126 | resolution, or ordinance; requiring removal of a sign to |
| 127 | adhere to specified provisions; amending s. 479.106, F.S.; |
| 128 | revising requirements for an application for a permit to |
| 129 | remove, cut, or trim trees or vegetation around a sign; |
| 130 | requiring that the application include a vegetation |
| 131 | management plan, a mitigation contribution to a trust |
| 132 | fund, or a combination of both; providing certain |
| 133 | evaluation criteria; providing criteria for the use of |
| 134 | herbicides; providing a time limit within which the |
| 135 | Department of Transportation must act; providing that the |
| 136 | permit is valid for 5 years; providing for an extension of |
| 137 | the permit; reducing the number of nonconforming signs |
| 138 | that must be removed before a permit may be issued for |
| 139 | certain signs; providing criteria for view zones; |
| 140 | requiring the department to provide notice to the sign |
| 141 | owner of beautification projects or vegetation planting; |
| 142 | amending s. 28, ch. 2008-174, Laws of Florida; revising |
| 143 | the expiration of a pilot program that authorizes the Palm |
| 144 | Beach County school district to recognize its business |
| 145 | partners by displaying such business partners' names on |
| 146 | school district property in unincorporated areas; |
| 147 | designating Edna S. Hargrett-Thrower Avenue in Orange |
| 148 | County; designating SP4 Thomas Berry Corbin Memorial |
| 149 | Highway and U.S. Navy BMC Samuel Calhoun Chavous, Jr. |
| 150 | Memorial Highway in Dixie County; designating Marine Lance |
| 151 | Corporal Brian R. Buesing Memorial Highway, United States |
| 152 | Army Sergeant Karl A. Campbell Memorial Highway, and U.S. |
| 153 | Army SPC James A. Page Memorial Highway in Levy County; |
| 154 | designating Veterans Memorial Highway in Putnam County; |
| 155 | designating Ben G. Watts Highway in Washington County; |
| 156 | designating Mardi Gras Way, West Park Boulevard, and |
| 157 | Pembroke Park Boulevard in Broward County; designating |
| 158 | Stark Memorial Drive and Duval County Law Enforcement |
| 159 | Memorial Overpass in Duval County; designating Verna Bell |
| 160 | Way in Nassau County; designating Deputy Hal P. Croft and |
| 161 | Deputy Ronald Jackson Memorial Highway in Union County; |
| 162 | designating Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet Boulevard in Miami-Dade |
| 163 | County; designating Alma Lee Loy Bridge in Indian River |
| 164 | County; amending ss. 24 and 45, ch. 2010-230, Laws of |
| 165 | Florida; revising the designation for Miss Lillie Williams |
| 166 | Boulevard and Father Gerard Jean-Juste Street in Miami- |
| 167 | Dade County; directing the Department of Transportation to |
| 168 | erect suitable markers; amending ss. 163.3180, 288.063, |
| 169 | 311.07, 311.09, 316.2122, 316.515, 336.01, 338.222, |
| 170 | 338.223, 338.2275, 338.228, 339.2819, 339.285, 341.8225, |
| 171 | 479.01, 479.07, and 479.261, F.S., relating to |
| 172 | transportation concurrency, contracts, port facilities, |
| 173 | Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development |
| 174 | Council, low-speed vehicles and mini trucks, width and |
| 175 | height limitations, the county road system, turnpike |
| 176 | projects, revenue bonds, Transportation Regional Incentive |
| 177 | Program, Enhanced Bridge Program for Sustainable |
| 178 | Transportation, high-speed rail projects, outdoor |
| 179 | advertising, sign permits, and the Logo sign program, |
| 180 | respectively; revising cross-references; amending ss. |
| 181 | 163.3187, 318.12, 335.02, 338.227, 338.234, 339.62, |
| 182 | 341.053, and 403.7211, F.S., relating to comprehensive |
| 183 | plans, traffic infractions, standards for lanes, services |
| 184 | related to the financing of projects, concessions along |
| 185 | the turnpike, components of the Strategic Intermodal |
| 186 | System, Intermodal Development Program, and hazardous |
| 187 | waste facilities, respectively; revising references to |
| 188 | conform to the incorporation of the Florida Intrastate |
| 189 | Highway System into the Strategic Intermodal System and to |
| 190 | changes made by the act; amending s. 20.23, F.S.; |
| 191 | providing that the Florida Statewide Passenger Rail |
| 192 | Commission has the primary and exclusive authority to |
| 193 | monitor certain designated functions related to passenger |
| 194 | rail systems; removing from the Florida Transportation |
| 195 | Commission the responsibility and duty to monitor the |
| 196 | efficiency, productivity, and management of all publicly |
| 197 | funded passenger rail systems in the state; amending s. |
| 198 | 311.09, F.S.; providing that Citrus County may apply for a |
| 199 | grant for a feasibility study through the Florida Seaport |
| 200 | Transportation and Economic Development Council; providing |
| 201 | for the evaluation of the application; requiring the |
| 202 | Department of Transportation to include the study in its |
| 203 | budget request under certain circumstances; amending s. |
| 204 | 212.055, F.S.; requiring counties to revise, as necessary, |
| 205 | any interlocal agreements entered into with municipalities |
| 206 | for the distribution of proceeds of the discretionary |
| 207 | sales surcharge in order that newly participating |
| 208 | municipalities may receive a share of the distribution; |
| 209 | specifying conditions by which a municipality may receive |
| 210 | a distribution of the sales surcharge; amending s. |
| 211 | 316.613, F.S.; providing an exception for certain for-hire |
| 212 | passenger vehicles from provisions requiring the use of |
| 213 | child restraint devices in motor vehicles; providing |
| 214 | effective dates. |
| 215 |
|
| 216 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 217 |
|
| 218 | Section 1. Subsection (17) is added to section 120.80, |
| 219 | Florida Statutes, to read: |
| 220 | 120.80 Exceptions and special requirements; agencies.- |
| 221 | (17) DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.-Sections 120.54(3)(b) |
| 222 | and 120.541 do not apply to the adjustment of tolls pursuant to |
| 223 | s. 338.165(3). |
| 224 | Section 2. Subsection (4) of section 316.091, Florida |
| 225 | Statutes, is amended, present subsection (5) of that section is |
| 226 | renumbered as subsection (6), and a new subsection (5) is added |
| 227 | to that section, to read: |
| 228 | 316.091 Limited access facilities; interstate highways; |
| 229 | use restricted.- |
| 230 | (4) No person shall operate a bicycle or other human- |
| 231 | powered vehicle on the roadway or along the shoulder of a |
| 232 | limited access highway, including bridges, unless official signs |
| 233 | and a designated marked bicycle lane are present at the entrance |
| 234 | of the section of highway indicating that such use is permitted |
| 235 | pursuant to a pilot program of the Department of Transportation |
| 236 | an interstate highway. |
| 237 | (5) The Department of Transportation shall establish a 2- |
| 238 | year pilot program, in three separate urban areas, in which it |
| 239 | shall erect signs and designate marked bicycle lanes indicating |
| 240 | highway approaches and bridge segments of limited access |
| 241 | highways as open to use by operators of bicycles and other |
| 242 | human-powered vehicles, under the following conditions: |
| 243 | (a) The limited access highway approaches and bridge |
| 244 | segments chosen must cross a river, lake, bay, inlet, or surface |
| 245 | water where no street or highway crossing the water body is |
| 246 | available for use within 2 miles of the entrance to the limited |
| 247 | access facility measured along the shortest public right-of-way. |
| 248 | (b) The Department of Transportation, with the concurrence |
| 249 | of the Federal Highway Administration on the interstate |
| 250 | facilities, shall establish the three highway approaches and |
| 251 | bridge segments for the pilot project by October 1, 2011. In |
| 252 | selecting the highway approaches and bridge segments, the |
| 253 | Department of Transportation shall consider, without limitation, |
| 254 | a minimum size of population in the urban area within 5 miles of |
| 255 | the highway approach and bridge segment, the lack of bicycle |
| 256 | access by other means, cost, safety, and operational impacts. |
| 257 | (c) The Department of Transportation shall begin the pilot |
| 258 | program by erecting signs and designating marked bicycle lanes |
| 259 | indicating highway approaches and bridge segments of limited |
| 260 | access highways, as qualified by the conditions described in |
| 261 | this subsection, as open to use by operators of bicycles and |
| 262 | other human-powered vehicles no later than January 1, 2012. |
| 263 | (d) The Department of Transportation shall conduct the |
| 264 | pilot program for a minimum of 2 years following the |
| 265 | implementation date. The department may continue to provide |
| 266 | bicycle access on the highway approaches and bridge segments |
| 267 | chosen for the pilot program or initiate bicycle access on other |
| 268 | limited access facilities after the end of the program. |
| 269 | (e) The Department of Transportation shall submit a report |
| 270 | of its findings and recommendations from the pilot program to |
| 271 | the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of |
| 272 | the House of Representatives by September 1, 2014. The report |
| 273 | shall include, at a minimum, bicycle crash data occurring in the |
| 274 | designated segments of the pilot program, usage by operators of |
| 275 | bicycles and other human-powered vehicles, enforcement issues, |
| 276 | operational impacts, and the cost of the pilot program. |
| 277 | Section 3. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section |
| 278 | 316.302, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 279 | 316.302 Commercial motor vehicles; safety regulations; |
| 280 | transporters and shippers of hazardous materials; enforcement.- |
| 281 | (2) |
| 282 | (b) Except as provided in 49 C.F.R. s. 395.1, a person who |
| 283 | operates a commercial motor vehicle solely in intrastate |
| 284 | commerce not transporting any hazardous material in amounts that |
| 285 | require placarding pursuant to 49 C.F.R. part 172 may not drive: |
| 286 | 1. More than 12 hours following 10 consecutive hours off |
| 287 | duty; or |
| 288 | 2. For any period after the end of the 16th hour after |
| 289 | coming on duty following 10 consecutive hours off duty. |
| 290 |
|
| 291 | The provisions of This paragraph does do not apply to operators |
| 292 | of farm labor vehicles during a state of emergency declared by |
| 293 | the Governor or under s. 570.07(21) or to drivers of utility |
| 294 | service vehicles as defined in 49 C.F.R. s. 395.2. |
| 295 | Section 4. Subsection (17) of section 331.303, Florida |
| 296 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 297 | 331.303 Definitions.- |
| 298 | (17) "Spaceport launch support facilities" means |
| 299 | industrial facilities as described in s. 380.0651(3)(c) and |
| 300 | includes include any launch pad, launch control center, and |
| 301 | fixed launch-support equipment, facilities located at launch |
| 302 | sites or launch ranges that are required to support launch |
| 303 | activities, including launch vehicle assembly, launch vehicle |
| 304 | operations and control, communications, flight safety functions, |
| 305 | and payload operations, control, and processing, as defined in |
| 306 | chapter 84 of Title 15 of the United States Code, Commercial |
| 307 | Space Competitiveness, 15 U.S.C. s. 5802, launch support |
| 308 | infrastructure, and transportation infrastructure necessary to |
| 309 | support space launch activities. |
| 310 | Section 5. Section 334.03, Florida Statutes, is amended to |
| 311 | read: |
| 312 | 334.03 Definitions.-When used in the Florida |
| 313 | Transportation Code, the term: |
| 314 | (1)(37) "511" or "511 services" means three-digit |
| 315 | telecommunications dialing to access interactive voice response |
| 316 | telephone traveler information services provided in the state as |
| 317 | defined by the Federal Communications Commission in FCC Order |
| 318 | No. 00-256, July 31, 2000. |
| 319 | (1) "Arterial road" means a route providing service which |
| 320 | is relatively continuous and of relatively high traffic volume, |
| 321 | long average trip length, high operating speed, and high |
| 322 | mobility importance. In addition, every United States numbered |
| 323 | highway is an arterial road. |
| 324 | (2)(2) "Bridge" means a structure, including supports, |
| 325 | erected over a depression or an obstruction, such as water or a |
| 326 | highway or railway, and having a track or passageway for |
| 327 | carrying traffic as defined in chapter 316 or other moving |
| 328 | loads. |
| 329 | (3) "City street system" means all local roads within a |
| 330 | municipality, and all collector roads inside that municipality, |
| 331 | which are not in the county road system. |
| 332 | (4) "Collector road" means a route providing service which |
| 333 | is of relatively moderate average traffic volume, moderately |
| 334 | average trip length, and moderately average operating speed. |
| 335 | Such a route also collects and distributes traffic between local |
| 336 | roads or arterial roads and serves as a linkage between land |
| 337 | access and mobility needs. |
| 338 | (4)(5) "Commissioners" means the governing body of a |
| 339 | county. |
| 340 | (5)(6) "Consolidated metropolitan statistical area" means |
| 341 | two or more metropolitan statistical areas that are socially and |
| 342 | economically interrelated as defined by the United States Bureau |
| 343 | of the Census. |
| 344 | (6)(7) "Controlled access facility" means a street or |
| 345 | highway to which the right of access is highly regulated by the |
| 346 | governmental entity having jurisdiction over the facility in |
| 347 | order to maximize the operational efficiency and safety of the |
| 348 | high-volume through traffic utilizing the facility. Owners or |
| 349 | occupants of abutting lands and other persons have a right of |
| 350 | access to or from such facility at such points only and in such |
| 351 | manner as may be determined by the governmental entity. |
| 352 | (7)(8) "County road system" means all collector roads in |
| 353 | the unincorporated areas of a county and all extensions of such |
| 354 | collector roads into and through any incorporated areas, all |
| 355 | local roads in the unincorporated areas, and all urban minor |
| 356 | arterial roads not in the State Highway System. |
| 357 | (8)(9) "Department" means the Department of |
| 358 | Transportation. |
| 359 | (10) "Florida Intrastate Highway System" means a system of |
| 360 | limited access and controlled access facilities on the State |
| 361 | Highway System which have the capacity to provide high-speed and |
| 362 | high-volume traffic movements in an efficient and safe manner. |
| 363 | (9)(11) "Functional classification" means the assignment |
| 364 | of roads into systems according to the character of service they |
| 365 | provide in relation to the total road network using procedures |
| 366 | developed by the Federal Highway Administration. Basic |
| 367 | functional categories include arterial roads, collector roads, |
| 368 | and local roads which may be subdivided into principal, major, |
| 369 | or minor levels. Those levels may be additionally divided into |
| 370 | rural and urban categories. |
| 371 | (10)(12) "Governmental entity" means a unit of government, |
| 372 | or any officially designated public agency or authority of a |
| 373 | unit of government, that has the responsibility for planning, |
| 374 | construction, operation, or maintenance or jurisdiction over |
| 375 | transportation facilities; the term includes the Federal |
| 376 | Government, the state government, a county, an incorporated |
| 377 | municipality, a metropolitan planning organization, an |
| 378 | expressway or transportation authority, a road and bridge |
| 379 | district, a special road and bridge district, and a regional |
| 380 | governmental unit. |
| 381 | (11)(38) "Interactive voice response" means a software |
| 382 | application that accepts a combination of voice telephone input |
| 383 | and touch-tone keypad selection and provides appropriate |
| 384 | responses in the form of voice, fax, callback, e-mail, and other |
| 385 | media. |
| 386 | (12)(13) "Limited access facility" means a street or |
| 387 | highway especially designed for through traffic, and over, from, |
| 388 | or to which owners or occupants of abutting land or other |
| 389 | persons have no right or easement of access, light, air, or view |
| 390 | by reason of the fact that their property abuts upon such |
| 391 | limited access facility or for any other reason. Such highways |
| 392 | or streets may be facilities from which trucks, buses, and other |
| 393 | commercial vehicles are excluded; or they may be facilities open |
| 394 | to use by all customary forms of street and highway traffic. |
| 395 | (13)(14) "Local governmental entity" means a unit of |
| 396 | government with less than statewide jurisdiction, or any |
| 397 | officially designated public agency or authority of such a unit |
| 398 | of government, that has the responsibility for planning, |
| 399 | construction, operation, or maintenance of, or jurisdiction |
| 400 | over, a transportation facility; the term includes, but is not |
| 401 | limited to, a county, an incorporated municipality, a |
| 402 | metropolitan planning organization, an expressway or |
| 403 | transportation authority, a road and bridge district, a special |
| 404 | road and bridge district, and a regional governmental unit. |
| 405 | (15) "Local road" means a route providing service which is |
| 406 | of relatively low average traffic volume, short average trip |
| 407 | length or minimal through-traffic movements, and high land |
| 408 | access for abutting property. |
| 409 | (14)(16) "Metropolitan area" means a geographic region |
| 410 | comprising as a minimum the existing urbanized area and the |
| 411 | contiguous area projected to become urbanized within a 20-year |
| 412 | forecast period. The boundaries of a metropolitan area may be |
| 413 | designated so as to encompass a metropolitan statistical area or |
| 414 | a consolidated metropolitan statistical area. If a metropolitan |
| 415 | area, or any part thereof, is located within a nonattainment |
| 416 | area, the boundaries of the metropolitan area must be designated |
| 417 | so as to include the boundaries of the entire nonattainment |
| 418 | area, unless otherwise provided by agreement between the |
| 419 | applicable metropolitan planning organization and the Governor. |
| 420 | (15)(17) "Metropolitan statistical area" means an area |
| 421 | that includes a municipality of 50,000 persons or more, or an |
| 422 | urbanized area of at least 50,000 persons as defined by the |
| 423 | United States Bureau of the Census, provided that the component |
| 424 | county or counties have a total population of at least 100,000. |
| 425 | (16)(18) "Nonattainment area" means an area designated by |
| 426 | the United States Environmental Protection Agency, pursuant to |
| 427 | federal law, as exceeding national primary or secondary ambient |
| 428 | air quality standards for the pollutants carbon monoxide or |
| 429 | ozone. |
| 430 | (17)(19) "Periodic maintenance" means activities that are |
| 431 | large in scope and require a major work effort to restore |
| 432 | deteriorated components of the transportation system to a safe |
| 433 | and serviceable condition, including, but not limited to, the |
| 434 | repair of large bridge structures, major repairs to bridges and |
| 435 | bridge systems, and the mineral sealing of lengthy sections of |
| 436 | roadway. |
| 437 | (18)(20) "Person" means any person described in s. 1.01 or |
| 438 | any unit of government in or outside the state. |
| 439 | (19)(21) "Right of access" means the right of ingress to a |
| 440 | highway from abutting land and egress from a highway to abutting |
| 441 | land. |
| 442 | (20)(22) "Right-of-way" means land in which the state, the |
| 443 | department, a county, or a municipality owns the fee or has an |
| 444 | easement devoted to or required for use as a transportation |
| 445 | facility. |
| 446 | (21)(23) "Road" means a way open to travel by the public, |
| 447 | including, but not limited to, a street, highway, or alley. The |
| 448 | term includes associated sidewalks, the roadbed, the right-of- |
| 449 | way, and all culverts, drains, sluices, ditches, water storage |
| 450 | areas, waterways, embankments, slopes, retaining walls, bridges, |
| 451 | tunnels, and viaducts necessary for the maintenance of travel |
| 452 | and all ferries used in connection therewith. |
| 453 | (22)(24) "Routine maintenance" means minor repairs and |
| 454 | associated tasks necessary to maintain a safe and efficient |
| 455 | transportation system. The term includes: pavement patching; |
| 456 | shoulder repair; cleaning and repair of drainage ditches, |
| 457 | traffic signs, and structures; mowing; bridge inspection and |
| 458 | maintenance; pavement striping; litter cleanup; and other |
| 459 | similar activities. |
| 460 | (23)(25) "State Highway System" means the following, which |
| 461 | shall be facilities to which access is regulated: |
| 462 | (a) the interstate system and all other roads within the |
| 463 | state which were under the jurisdiction of the state on June 10, |
| 464 | 1995, and roads constructed by an agency of the state for the |
| 465 | State Highway System, and roads transferred to the state's |
| 466 | jurisdiction after that date by mutual consent with another |
| 467 | governmental entity, but not roads so transferred from the |
| 468 | state's jurisdiction. Such facilities shall be facilities to |
| 469 | which access is regulated.; |
| 470 | (b) All rural arterial routes and their extensions into |
| 471 | and through urban areas; |
| 472 | (c) All urban principal arterial routes; and |
| 473 | (d) The urban minor arterial mileage on the existing State |
| 474 | Highway System as of July 1, 1987, plus additional mileage to |
| 475 | comply with the 2-percent requirement as described below. |
| 476 |
|
| 477 | However, not less than 2 percent of the public road mileage of |
| 478 | each urbanized area on record as of June 30, 1986, shall be |
| 479 | included as minor arterials in the State Highway System. |
| 480 | Urbanized areas not meeting the foregoing minimum requirement |
| 481 | shall have transferred to the State Highway System additional |
| 482 | minor arterials of the highest significance in which case the |
| 483 | total minor arterials in the State Highway System from any |
| 484 | urbanized area shall not exceed 2.5 percent of that area's total |
| 485 | public urban road mileage. |
| 486 | (24)(26) "State Park Road System" means roads embraced |
| 487 | within the boundaries of state parks and state roads leading to |
| 488 | state parks, other than roads of the State Highway System, the |
| 489 | county road systems, or the city street systems. |
| 490 | (25)(27) "State road" means a street, road, highway, or |
| 491 | other way open to travel by the public generally and dedicated |
| 492 | to the public use according to law or by prescription and |
| 493 | designated by the department, as provided by law, as part of the |
| 494 | State Highway System. |
| 495 | (26)(28) "Structure" means a bridge, viaduct, tunnel, |
| 496 | causeway, approach, ferry slip, culvert, toll plaza, gate, or |
| 497 | other similar facility used in connection with a transportation |
| 498 | facility. |
| 499 | (27)(29) "Sufficiency rating" means the objective rating |
| 500 | of a road or section of a road for the purpose of determining |
| 501 | its capability to serve properly the actual or anticipated |
| 502 | volume of traffic using the road. |
| 503 | (28)(30) "Transportation corridor" means any land area |
| 504 | designated by the state, a county, or a municipality which is |
| 505 | between two geographic points and which area is used or suitable |
| 506 | for the movement of people and goods by one or more modes of |
| 507 | transportation, including areas necessary for management of |
| 508 | access and securing applicable approvals and permits. |
| 509 | Transportation corridors shall contain, but are not limited to, |
| 510 | the following: |
| 511 | (a) Existing publicly owned rights-of-way; |
| 512 | (b) All property or property interests necessary for |
| 513 | future transportation facilities, including rights of access, |
| 514 | air, view, and light, whether public or private, for the purpose |
| 515 | of securing and utilizing future transportation rights-of-way, |
| 516 | including, but not limited to, any lands reasonably necessary |
| 517 | now or in the future for securing applicable approvals and |
| 518 | permits, borrow pits, drainage ditches, water retention areas, |
| 519 | rest areas, replacement access for landowners whose access could |
| 520 | be impaired due to the construction of a future facility, and |
| 521 | replacement rights-of-way for relocation of rail and utility |
| 522 | facilities. |
| 523 | (29)(31) "Transportation facility" means any means for the |
| 524 | transportation of people or property from place to place which |
| 525 | is constructed, operated, or maintained in whole or in part from |
| 526 | public funds. The term includes the property or property rights, |
| 527 | both real and personal, which have been or may be established by |
| 528 | public bodies for the transportation of people or property from |
| 529 | place to place. |
| 530 | (30)(32) "Urban area" means a geographic region comprising |
| 531 | as a minimum the area inside the United States Bureau of the |
| 532 | Census boundary of an urban place with a population of 5,000 or |
| 533 | more persons, expanded to include adjacent developed areas as |
| 534 | provided for by Federal Highway Administration regulations. |
| 535 | (33) "Urban minor arterial road" means a route that |
| 536 | generally interconnects with and augments an urban principal |
| 537 | arterial road and provides service to trips of shorter length |
| 538 | and a lower level of travel mobility. The term includes all |
| 539 | arterials not classified as "principal" and contain facilities |
| 540 | that place more emphasis on land access than the higher system. |
| 541 | (31)(34) "Urban place" means a geographic region composed |
| 542 | of one or more contiguous census tracts that have been found by |
| 543 | the United States Bureau of the Census to contain a population |
| 544 | density of at least 1,000 persons per square mile. |
| 545 | (35) "Urban principal arterial road" means a route that |
| 546 | generally serves the major centers of activity of an urban area, |
| 547 | the highest traffic volume corridors, and the longest trip |
| 548 | purpose and carries a high proportion of the total urban area |
| 549 | travel on a minimum of mileage. Such roads are integrated, both |
| 550 | internally and between major rural connections. |
| 551 | (32)(36) "Urbanized area" means a geographic region |
| 552 | comprising as a minimum the area inside an urban place of 50,000 |
| 553 | or more persons, as designated by the United States Bureau of |
| 554 | the Census, expanded to include adjacent developed areas as |
| 555 | provided for by Federal Highway Administration regulations. |
| 556 | Urban areas with a population of fewer than 50,000 persons which |
| 557 | are located within the expanded boundary of an urbanized area |
| 558 | are not separately recognized. |
| 559 | Section 6. Subsections (11), (13), (26), and (33) of |
| 560 | section 334.044, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 561 | 334.044 Department; powers and duties.-The department |
| 562 | shall have the following general powers and duties: |
| 563 | (11) To establish a numbering system for public roads, and |
| 564 | to functionally classify such roads, and to assign |
| 565 | jurisdictional responsibility. |
| 566 | (13) To designate existing and to plan proposed |
| 567 | transportation facilities as part of the State Highway System, |
| 568 | and to construct, maintain, and operate such facilities. |
| 569 | (26) To provide for the enhancement of environmental |
| 570 | benefits, including air and water quality; to prevent roadside |
| 571 | erosion; to conserve the natural roadside growth and scenery; |
| 572 | and to provide for the implementation and maintenance of |
| 573 | roadside conservation, enhancement, and stabilization programs. |
| 574 | No more less than 1.5 percent of the amount contracted for |
| 575 | construction projects that add capacity to the existing system |
| 576 | shall be allocated by the department for the purchase of plant |
| 577 | materials., with, To the greatest extent practical, a minimum of |
| 578 | 50 percent of these funds shall be allocated for large plant |
| 579 | materials and the remaining funds for other plant materials. All |
| 580 | such plant materials shall be purchased from Florida commercial |
| 581 | nursery stock in this state on a uniform competitive bid basis. |
| 582 | The department will develop grades and standards for landscaping |
| 583 | materials purchased through this process. To accomplish these |
| 584 | activities, the department may contract with nonprofit |
| 585 | organizations having the primary purpose of developing youth |
| 586 | employment opportunities. |
| 587 | (33) To enter into agreement with Space Florida to |
| 588 | coordinate and cooperate in the development of spaceport |
| 589 | infrastructure as defined in s. 331.303(10) and (17) and related |
| 590 | transportation facilities contained in the Strategic Intermodal |
| 591 | System Plan and, where appropriate, encourage the cooperation |
| 592 | and integration of airports and spaceports in order to meet |
| 593 | transportation-related needs. |
| 594 | Section 7. Section 334.047, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 595 | to read: |
| 596 | 334.047 Prohibition.-Notwithstanding any other provision |
| 597 | of law to the contrary, the Department of Transportation may not |
| 598 | establish a cap on the number of miles in the State Highway |
| 599 | System or a maximum number of miles of urban principal arterial |
| 600 | roads, as defined in s. 334.03, within a district or county. |
| 601 | Section 8. Subsection (5) of section 336.021, Florida |
| 602 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 603 | 336.021 County transportation system; levy of ninth-cent |
| 604 | fuel tax on motor fuel and diesel fuel.- |
| 605 | (5) All impositions of the tax shall be levied before |
| 606 | October 1 July 1 of each year to be effective January 1 of the |
| 607 | following year. However, levies of the tax which were in effect |
| 608 | on July 1, 2002, and which expire on August 31 of any year may |
| 609 | be reimposed at the current authorized rate to be effective |
| 610 | September 1 of the year of expiration. All impositions shall be |
| 611 | required to end on December 31 of a year. A decision to rescind |
| 612 | the tax shall not take effect on any date other than December 31 |
| 613 | and shall require a minimum of 60 days' notice to the department |
| 614 | of such decision. |
| 615 | Section 9. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1), |
| 616 | paragraph (a) of subsection (5), and paragraphs (d) and (e) of |
| 617 | subsection (7) of section 336.025, Florida Statutes, are amended |
| 618 | to read: |
| 619 | 336.025 County transportation system; levy of local option |
| 620 | fuel tax on motor fuel and diesel fuel.- |
| 621 | (1)(a) In addition to other taxes allowed by law, there |
| 622 | may be levied as provided in ss. 206.41(1)(e) and 206.87(1)(c) a |
| 623 | 1-cent, 2-cent, 3-cent, 4-cent, 5-cent, or 6-cent local option |
| 624 | fuel tax upon every gallon of motor fuel and diesel fuel sold in |
| 625 | a county and taxed under the provisions of part I or part II of |
| 626 | chapter 206. |
| 627 | 1. All impositions and rate changes of the tax shall be |
| 628 | levied before October 1 July 1 to be effective January 1 of the |
| 629 | following year for a period not to exceed 30 years, and the |
| 630 | applicable method of distribution shall be established pursuant |
| 631 | to subsection (3) or subsection (4). However, levies of the tax |
| 632 | which were in effect on July 1, 2002, and which expire on August |
| 633 | 31 of any year may be reimposed at the current authorized rate |
| 634 | effective September 1 of the year of expiration. Upon |
| 635 | expiration, the tax may be relevied provided that a |
| 636 | redetermination of the method of distribution is made as |
| 637 | provided in this section. |
| 638 | 2. County and municipal governments shall utilize moneys |
| 639 | received pursuant to this paragraph only for transportation |
| 640 | expenditures. |
| 641 | 3. Any tax levied pursuant to this paragraph may be |
| 642 | extended on a majority vote of the governing body of the county. |
| 643 | A redetermination of the method of distribution shall be |
| 644 | established pursuant to subsection (3) or subsection (4), if, |
| 645 | after July 1, 1986, the tax is extended or the tax rate changed, |
| 646 | for the period of extension or for the additional tax. |
| 647 | (b) In addition to other taxes allowed by law, there may |
| 648 | be levied as provided in s. 206.41(1)(e) a 1-cent, 2-cent, 3- |
| 649 | cent, 4-cent, or 5-cent local option fuel tax upon every gallon |
| 650 | of motor fuel sold in a county and taxed under the provisions of |
| 651 | part I of chapter 206. The tax shall be levied by an ordinance |
| 652 | adopted by a majority plus one vote of the membership of the |
| 653 | governing body of the county or by referendum. |
| 654 | 1. All impositions and rate changes of the tax shall be |
| 655 | levied before October 1 July 1, to be effective January 1 of the |
| 656 | following year. However, levies of the tax which were in effect |
| 657 | on July 1, 2002, and which expire on August 31 of any year may |
| 658 | be reimposed at the current authorized rate effective September |
| 659 | 1 of the year of expiration. |
| 660 | 2. The county may, prior to levy of the tax, establish by |
| 661 | interlocal agreement with one or more municipalities located |
| 662 | therein, representing a majority of the population of the |
| 663 | incorporated area within the county, a distribution formula for |
| 664 | dividing the entire proceeds of the tax among county government |
| 665 | and all eligible municipalities within the county. If no |
| 666 | interlocal agreement is adopted before the effective date of the |
| 667 | tax, tax revenues shall be distributed pursuant to the |
| 668 | provisions of subsection (4). If no interlocal agreement exists, |
| 669 | a new interlocal agreement may be established prior to June 1 of |
| 670 | any year pursuant to this subparagraph. However, any interlocal |
| 671 | agreement agreed to under this subparagraph after the initial |
| 672 | levy of the tax or change in the tax rate authorized in this |
| 673 | section shall under no circumstances materially or adversely |
| 674 | affect the rights of holders of outstanding bonds which are |
| 675 | backed by taxes authorized by this paragraph, and the amounts |
| 676 | distributed to the county government and each municipality shall |
| 677 | not be reduced below the amount necessary for the payment of |
| 678 | principal and interest and reserves for principal and interest |
| 679 | as required under the covenants of any bond resolution |
| 680 | outstanding on the date of establishment of the new interlocal |
| 681 | agreement. |
| 682 | 3. County and municipal governments shall use moneys |
| 683 | received pursuant to this paragraph for transportation |
| 684 | expenditures needed to meet the requirements of the capital |
| 685 | improvements element of an adopted comprehensive plan or for |
| 686 | expenditures needed to meet immediate local transportation |
| 687 | problems and for other transportation-related expenditures that |
| 688 | are critical for building comprehensive roadway networks by |
| 689 | local governments. For purposes of this paragraph, expenditures |
| 690 | for the construction of new roads, the reconstruction or |
| 691 | resurfacing of existing paved roads, or the paving of existing |
| 692 | graded roads shall be deemed to increase capacity and such |
| 693 | projects shall be included in the capital improvements element |
| 694 | of an adopted comprehensive plan. Expenditures for purposes of |
| 695 | this paragraph shall not include routine maintenance of roads. |
| 696 | (5)(a) By October 1 July 1 of each year, the county shall |
| 697 | notify the Department of Revenue of the rate of the taxes levied |
| 698 | pursuant to paragraphs (1)(a) and (b), and of its decision to |
| 699 | rescind or change the rate of a tax, if applicable, and shall |
| 700 | provide the department with a certified copy of the interlocal |
| 701 | agreement established under subparagraph (1)(b)2. or |
| 702 | subparagraph (3)(a)1. with distribution proportions established |
| 703 | by such agreement or pursuant to subsection (4), if applicable. |
| 704 | A decision to rescind a tax shall not take effect on any date |
| 705 | other than December 31 and shall require a minimum of 60 days' |
| 706 | notice to the Department of Revenue of such decision. |
| 707 | (7) For the purposes of this section, "transportation |
| 708 | expenditures" means expenditures by the local government from |
| 709 | local or state shared revenue sources, excluding expenditures of |
| 710 | bond proceeds, for the following programs: |
| 711 | (d) Street lighting installation, operation, maintenance, |
| 712 | and repair. |
| 713 | (e) Traffic signs;, traffic engineering;, signalization |
| 714 | installation, operation, maintenance, and repair; and pavement |
| 715 | markings. |
| 716 | Section 10. Subsection (4) of section 337.111, Florida |
| 717 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 718 | 337.111 Contracting for monuments and memorials to |
| 719 | military veterans at rest areas.-The Department of |
| 720 | Transportation is authorized to enter into contract with any |
| 721 | not-for-profit group or organization that has been operating for |
| 722 | not less than 2 years for the installation of monuments and |
| 723 | memorials honoring Florida's military veterans at highway rest |
| 724 | areas around the state pursuant to the provisions of this |
| 725 | section. |
| 726 | (4) The group or organization making the proposal shall |
| 727 | provide a 10-year bond, an annual renewable bond, an irrevocable |
| 728 | letter of credit, or other form of security as approved by the |
| 729 | department's comptroller, for the purpose of securing the cost |
| 730 | of removal of the monument and any modifications made to the |
| 731 | site as part of the placement of the monument should the |
| 732 | Department of Transportation determine it necessary to remove or |
| 733 | relocate the monument. Such removal or relocation shall be |
| 734 | approved by the committee described in subsection (1). Prior to |
| 735 | expiration, the bond shall be renewed for another 10-year period |
| 736 | if the memorial is to remain in place. |
| 737 | Section 11. Section 337.403, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 738 | to read: |
| 739 | 337.403 Interference caused by Relocation of utility; |
| 740 | expenses.- |
| 741 | (1) When a Any utility heretofore or hereafter placed |
| 742 | upon, under, over, or along any public road or publicly owned |
| 743 | rail corridor that is found by the authority to be unreasonably |
| 744 | interfering in any way with the convenient, safe, or continuous |
| 745 | use, or the maintenance, improvement, extension, or expansion, |
| 746 | of such public road or publicly owned rail corridor, the utility |
| 747 | owner shall, upon 30 days' written notice to the utility or its |
| 748 | agent by the authority, initiate the work necessary to alleviate |
| 749 | the interference be removed or relocated by such utility at its |
| 750 | own expense except as provided in paragraphs (a)-(f). The work |
| 751 | shall be completed within such reasonable time as stated in the |
| 752 | notice or such time as agreed to by the authority and the |
| 753 | utility owner. |
| 754 | (a) If the relocation of utility facilities, as referred |
| 755 | to in s. 111 of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, Pub. L. No. |
| 756 | 627 of the 84th Congress, is necessitated by the construction of |
| 757 | a project on the federal-aid interstate system, including |
| 758 | extensions thereof within urban areas, and the cost of the |
| 759 | project is eligible and approved for reimbursement by the |
| 760 | Federal Government to the extent of 90 percent or more under the |
| 761 | Federal Aid Highway Act, or any amendment thereof, then in that |
| 762 | event the utility owning or operating such facilities shall |
| 763 | perform any necessary work relocate the facilities upon notice |
| 764 | from order of the department, and the state shall pay the entire |
| 765 | expense properly attributable to such work relocation after |
| 766 | deducting therefrom any increase in the value of any the new |
| 767 | facility and any salvage value derived from any the old |
| 768 | facility. |
| 769 | (b) When a joint agreement between the department and the |
| 770 | utility is executed for utility improvement, relocation, or |
| 771 | removal work to be accomplished as part of a contract for |
| 772 | construction of a transportation facility, the department may |
| 773 | participate in those utility work improvement, relocation, or |
| 774 | removal costs that exceed the department's official estimate of |
| 775 | the cost of the work by more than 10 percent. The amount of such |
| 776 | participation shall be limited to the difference between the |
| 777 | official estimate of all the work in the joint agreement plus 10 |
| 778 | percent and the amount awarded for this work in the construction |
| 779 | contract for such work. The department may not participate in |
| 780 | any utility work improvement, relocation, or removal costs that |
| 781 | occur as a result of changes or additions during the course of |
| 782 | the contract. |
| 783 | (c) When an agreement between the department and utility |
| 784 | is executed for utility improvement, relocation, or removal work |
| 785 | to be accomplished in advance of a contract for construction of |
| 786 | a transportation facility, the department may participate in the |
| 787 | cost of clearing and grubbing necessary to perform such work. |
| 788 | (d) If the utility facility involved being removed or |
| 789 | relocated was initially installed to exclusively serve the |
| 790 | department, its tenants, or both, the department shall bear the |
| 791 | costs of the utility work removing or relocating that utility |
| 792 | facility. However, the department is not responsible for bearing |
| 793 | the cost of utility work related to removing or relocating any |
| 794 | subsequent additions to that facility for the purpose of serving |
| 795 | others. |
| 796 | (e) If, under an agreement between a utility and the |
| 797 | authority entered into after July 1, 2009, the utility conveys, |
| 798 | subordinates, or relinquishes a compensable property right to |
| 799 | the authority for the purpose of accommodating the acquisition |
| 800 | or use of the right-of-way by the authority, without the |
| 801 | agreement expressly addressing future responsibility for the |
| 802 | cost of necessary utility work removing or relocating the |
| 803 | utility, the authority shall bear the cost of removal or |
| 804 | relocation. This paragraph does not impair or restrict, and may |
| 805 | not be used to interpret, the terms of any such agreement |
| 806 | entered into before July 1, 2009. |
| 807 | (f) If the utility is an electric facility being relocated |
| 808 | underground in order to enhance vehicular, bicycle, and |
| 809 | pedestrian safety and in which ownership of the electric |
| 810 | facility to be placed underground has been transferred from a |
| 811 | private to a public utility within the past 5 years, the |
| 812 | department shall incur all costs of the necessary utility work |
| 813 | relocation. |
| 814 | (2) If such utility work removal or relocation is |
| 815 | incidental to work to be done on such road or publicly owned |
| 816 | rail corridor, the notice shall be given at the same time the |
| 817 | contract for the work is advertised for bids, or no less than 30 |
| 818 | days prior to the commencement of such work by the authority, |
| 819 | whichever is greater. |
| 820 | (3) Whenever the notice from an order of the authority |
| 821 | requires such utility work removal or change in the location of |
| 822 | any utility from the right-of-way of a public road or publicly |
| 823 | owned rail corridor, and the owner thereof fails perform the |
| 824 | work to remove or change the same at his or her own expense to |
| 825 | conform to the order within the time stated in the notice or |
| 826 | such other time as agreed to by the authority and the utility |
| 827 | owner, the authority shall proceed to cause the utility work to |
| 828 | be performed to be removed. The expense thereby incurred shall |
| 829 | be paid out of any money available therefor, and such expense |
| 830 | shall, except as provided in subsection (1), be charged against |
| 831 | the owner and levied and collected and paid into the fund from |
| 832 | which the expense of such relocation was paid. |
| 833 | Section 12. Subsection (1) of section 337.404, Florida |
| 834 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 835 | 337.404 Removal or relocation of utility facilities; |
| 836 | notice and order; court review.- |
| 837 | (1) Whenever it shall become necessary for the authority |
| 838 | to perform utility work remove or relocate any utility as |
| 839 | provided in s. 337.403 the preceding section, the owner of the |
| 840 | utility, or the owner's chief agent, shall be given notice that |
| 841 | the authority will perform of such work removal or relocation |
| 842 | and, after the work is complete, shall be given an order |
| 843 | requiring the payment of the cost thereof, and a shall be given |
| 844 | reasonable time, which shall not be less than 20 nor more than |
| 845 | 30 days, in which to appear before the authority to contest the |
| 846 | reasonableness of the order. Should the owner or the owner's |
| 847 | representative not appear, the determination of the cost to the |
| 848 | owner shall be final. Authorities considered agencies for the |
| 849 | purposes of chapter 120 shall adjudicate removal or relocation |
| 850 | of utilities pursuant to chapter 120. |
| 851 | Section 13. Subsections (1) and (4) of section 337.408, |
| 852 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 853 | 337.408 Regulation of bus stops, benches, transit |
| 854 | shelters, street light poles, waste disposal receptacles, and |
| 855 | modular news racks within rights-of-way.- |
| 856 | (1) Benches or transit shelters, including advertising |
| 857 | displayed on benches or transit shelters, may be installed |
| 858 | within the right-of-way limits of any municipal, county, or |
| 859 | state road, except a limited access highway, provided that such |
| 860 | benches or transit shelters are for the comfort or convenience |
| 861 | of the general public or are at designated stops on official bus |
| 862 | routes and provided that written authorization has been given to |
| 863 | a qualified private supplier of such service by the municipal |
| 864 | government within whose incorporated limits such benches or |
| 865 | transit shelters are installed or by the county government |
| 866 | within whose unincorporated limits such benches or transit |
| 867 | shelters are installed. A municipality or county may authorize |
| 868 | the installation, without public bid, of benches and transit |
| 869 | shelters together with advertising displayed thereon within the |
| 870 | right-of-way limits of such roads. All installations shall be in |
| 871 | compliance with all applicable laws and rules, including, |
| 872 | without limitation, the Americans with Disabilities Act. |
| 873 | Municipalities or counties shall indemnify, defend, and hold |
| 874 | harmless the department from any suits, actions, proceedings, |
| 875 | claims, losses, costs, charges, expenses, damages, liabilities, |
| 876 | attorney fees, and court costs relating to the installation, |
| 877 | removal, or relocation of such installations. Any contract for |
| 878 | the installation of benches or transit shelters or advertising |
| 879 | on benches or transit shelters which was entered into before |
| 880 | April 8, 1992, without public bidding is ratified and affirmed. |
| 881 | Such benches or transit shelters may not interfere with right- |
| 882 | of-way preservation and maintenance. Any bench or transit |
| 883 | shelter located on a sidewalk within the right-of-way limits of |
| 884 | any road on the State Highway System or the county road system |
| 885 | shall be located so as to leave at least 36 inches of clearance |
| 886 | for pedestrians and persons in wheelchairs. Such clearance shall |
| 887 | be measured in a direction perpendicular to the centerline of |
| 888 | the road. |
| 889 | (4) The department has the authority to direct the |
| 890 | immediate relocation or removal of any bus stop, bench, transit |
| 891 | shelter, waste disposal receptacle, public pay telephone, or |
| 892 | modular news rack that endangers life or property, or that is |
| 893 | otherwise not in compliance with applicable laws and rules, |
| 894 | except that transit bus benches that were placed in service |
| 895 | before April 1, 1992, are not required to comply with bench size |
| 896 | and advertising display size requirements established by the |
| 897 | department before March 1, 1992. If a municipality or county |
| 898 | fails to comply with the department's direction, the department |
| 899 | shall remove the noncompliant installation, charge the cost of |
| 900 | the removal to the municipality or county, and may deduct or |
| 901 | offset such cost from any other funding available to the |
| 902 | municipality or county from the department. Any transit bus |
| 903 | bench that was in service before April 1, 1992, may be replaced |
| 904 | with a bus bench of the same size or smaller, if the bench is |
| 905 | damaged or destroyed or otherwise becomes unusable. The |
| 906 | department may adopt rules relating to the regulation of bench |
| 907 | size and advertising display size requirements. If a |
| 908 | municipality or county within which a bench is to be located has |
| 909 | adopted an ordinance or other applicable regulation that |
| 910 | establishes bench size or advertising display sign requirements |
| 911 | different from requirements specified in department rule, the |
| 912 | local government requirement applies within the respective |
| 913 | municipality or county. Placement of any bench or advertising |
| 914 | display on the National Highway System under a local ordinance |
| 915 | or regulation adopted under this subsection is subject to |
| 916 | approval of the Federal Highway Administration. |
| 917 | Section 14. Chapter 338, Florida Statutes, is retitled |
| 918 | "LIMITED ACCESS AND TOLL FACILITIES." |
| 919 | Section 15. Section 338.001, Florida Statutes, is |
| 920 | repealed. |
| 921 | Section 16. Subsections (1) through (6) of section 338.01, |
| 922 | Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (2) through (7), |
| 923 | respectively, and a new subsection (1) is added to that section |
| 924 | to read: |
| 925 | 338.01 Authority to establish and regulate limited access |
| 926 | facilities.- |
| 927 | (1) The department is authorized to establish limited |
| 928 | access facilities as provided in s. 335.02. The primary function |
| 929 | of such limited access facilities is to allow high-speed and |
| 930 | high-volume traffic movements within the state. Access to |
| 931 | abutting land is subordinate to this function, and such access |
| 932 | must be prohibited or highly regulated. |
| 933 | Section 17. Section 339.155, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 934 | to read: |
| 935 | 339.155 Transportation planning.- |
| 936 | (1) THE FLORIDA TRANSPORTATION PLAN.-The department shall |
| 937 | develop and annually update a statewide transportation plan, to |
| 938 | be known as the Florida Transportation Plan. The plan shall be |
| 939 | designed so as to be easily read and understood by the general |
| 940 | public. The purpose of the Florida Transportation Plan is to |
| 941 | establish and define the state's long-range transportation goals |
| 942 | and objectives to be accomplished over a period of at least 20 |
| 943 | years within the context of the State Comprehensive Plan, and |
| 944 | any other statutory mandates and authorizations and based upon |
| 945 | the prevailing principles of: preserving the existing |
| 946 | transportation infrastructure; enhancing Florida's economic |
| 947 | competitiveness; and improving travel choices to ensure |
| 948 | mobility. The Florida Transportation Plan shall consider the |
| 949 | needs of the entire state transportation system and examine the |
| 950 | use of all modes of transportation to effectively and |
| 951 | efficiently meet such needs. |
| 952 | (2) SCOPE OF PLANNING PROCESS.-The department shall carry |
| 953 | out a transportation planning process in conformance with s. |
| 954 | 334.046(1) and 23 U.S.C. s. 135. which provides for |
| 955 | consideration of projects and strategies that will: |
| 956 | (a) Support the economic vitality of the United States, |
| 957 | Florida, and the metropolitan areas, especially by enabling |
| 958 | global competitiveness, productivity, and efficiency; |
| 959 | (b) Increase the safety and security of the transportation |
| 960 | system for motorized and nonmotorized users; |
| 961 | (c) Increase the accessibility and mobility options |
| 962 | available to people and for freight; |
| 963 | (d) Protect and enhance the environment, promote energy |
| 964 | conservation, and improve quality of life; |
| 965 | (e) Enhance the integration and connectivity of the |
| 966 | transportation system, across and between modes throughout |
| 967 | Florida, for people and freight; |
| 968 | (f) Promote efficient system management and operation; and |
| 969 | (g) Emphasize the preservation of the existing |
| 970 | transportation system. |
| 971 | (3) FORMAT, SCHEDULE, AND REVIEW.-The Florida |
| 972 | Transportation Plan shall be a unified, concise planning |
| 973 | document that clearly defines the state's long-range |
| 974 | transportation goals and objectives and documents the |
| 975 | department's short-range objectives developed to further such |
| 976 | goals and objectives. The plan shall: |
| 977 | (a) Include a glossary that clearly and succinctly defines |
| 978 | any and all phrases, words, or terms of art included in the |
| 979 | plan, with which the general public may be unfamiliar. and shall |
| 980 | consist of, at a minimum, the following components: |
| 981 | (b)(a) Document A long-range component documenting the |
| 982 | goals and long-term objectives necessary to implement the |
| 983 | results of the department consistent with department's findings |
| 984 | from its examination of the criteria listed in subsection (2) |
| 985 | and s. 334.046(1) and 23 U.S.C. s. 135. The long-range component |
| 986 | must |
| 987 | (c) Be developed in cooperation with the metropolitan |
| 988 | planning organizations and reconciled, to the maximum extent |
| 989 | feasible, with the long-range plans developed by metropolitan |
| 990 | planning organizations pursuant to s. 339.175. The plan must |
| 991 | also |
| 992 | (d) Be developed in consultation with affected local |
| 993 | officials in nonmetropolitan areas and with any affected Indian |
| 994 | tribal governments. The plan must |
| 995 | (e) Provide an examination of transportation issues likely |
| 996 | to arise during at least a 20-year period. The long-range |
| 997 | component shall |
| 998 | (f) Be updated at least once every 5 years, or more often |
| 999 | as necessary, to reflect substantive changes to federal or state |
| 1000 | law. |
| 1001 | (b) A short-range component documenting the short-term |
| 1002 | objectives and strategies necessary to implement the goals and |
| 1003 | long-term objectives contained in the long-range component. The |
| 1004 | short-range component must define the relationship between the |
| 1005 | long-range goals and the short-range objectives, specify those |
| 1006 | objectives against which the department's achievement of such |
| 1007 | goals will be measured, and identify transportation strategies |
| 1008 | necessary to efficiently achieve the goals and objectives in the |
| 1009 | plan. It must provide a policy framework within which the |
| 1010 | department's legislative budget request, the strategic |
| 1011 | information resource management plan, and the work program are |
| 1012 | developed. The short-range component shall serve as the |
| 1013 | department's annual agency strategic plan pursuant to s. |
| 1014 | 186.021. The short-range component shall be developed consistent |
| 1015 | with available and forecasted state and federal funds. The |
| 1016 | short-range component shall also be submitted to the Florida |
| 1017 | Transportation Commission. |
| 1018 | (4) ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT.-The department shall |
| 1019 | develop an annual performance report evaluating the operation of |
| 1020 | the department for the preceding fiscal year. The report shall |
| 1021 | also include a summary of the financial operations of the |
| 1022 | department and shall annually evaluate how well the adopted work |
| 1023 | program meets the short-term objectives contained in the short- |
| 1024 | range component of the Florida Transportation Plan. This |
| 1025 | performance report shall be submitted to the Florida |
| 1026 | Transportation Commission and the legislative appropriations and |
| 1027 | transportation committees. |
| 1028 | (4)(5) ADDITIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANS.- |
| 1029 | (a) Upon request by local governmental entities, the |
| 1030 | department may in its discretion develop and design |
| 1031 | transportation corridors, arterial and collector streets, |
| 1032 | vehicular parking areas, and other support facilities which are |
| 1033 | consistent with the plans of the department for major |
| 1034 | transportation facilities. The department may render to local |
| 1035 | governmental entities or their planning agencies such technical |
| 1036 | assistance and services as are necessary so that local plans and |
| 1037 | facilities are coordinated with the plans and facilities of the |
| 1038 | department. |
| 1039 | (b) Each regional planning council, as provided for in s. |
| 1040 | 186.504, or any successor agency thereto, shall develop, as an |
| 1041 | element of its strategic regional policy plan, transportation |
| 1042 | goals and policies. The transportation goals and policies must |
| 1043 | be prioritized to comply with the prevailing principles provided |
| 1044 | in subsection (2) and s. 334.046(1). The transportation goals |
| 1045 | and policies shall be consistent, to the maximum extent |
| 1046 | feasible, with the goals and policies of the metropolitan |
| 1047 | planning organization and the Florida Transportation Plan. The |
| 1048 | transportation goals and policies of the regional planning |
| 1049 | council will be advisory only and shall be submitted to the |
| 1050 | department and any affected metropolitan planning organization |
| 1051 | for their consideration and comments. Metropolitan planning |
| 1052 | organization plans and other local transportation plans shall be |
| 1053 | developed consistent, to the maximum extent feasible, with the |
| 1054 | regional transportation goals and policies. The regional |
| 1055 | planning council shall review urbanized area transportation |
| 1056 | plans and any other planning products stipulated in s. 339.175 |
| 1057 | and provide the department and respective metropolitan planning |
| 1058 | organizations with written recommendations which the department |
| 1059 | and the metropolitan planning organizations shall take under |
| 1060 | advisement. Further, the regional planning councils shall |
| 1061 | directly assist local governments which are not part of a |
| 1062 | metropolitan area transportation planning process in the |
| 1063 | development of the transportation element of their comprehensive |
| 1064 | plans as required by s. 163.3177. |
| 1065 | (c) Regional transportation plans may be developed in |
| 1066 | regional transportation areas in accordance with an interlocal |
| 1067 | agreement entered into pursuant to s. 163.01 by two or more |
| 1068 | contiguous metropolitan planning organizations; one or more |
| 1069 | metropolitan planning organizations and one or more contiguous |
| 1070 | counties, none of which is a member of a metropolitan planning |
| 1071 | organization; a multicounty regional transportation authority |
| 1072 | created by or pursuant to law; two or more contiguous counties |
| 1073 | that are not members of a metropolitan planning organization; or |
| 1074 | metropolitan planning organizations comprised of three or more |
| 1075 | counties. |
| 1076 | (d) The interlocal agreement must, at a minimum, identify |
| 1077 | the entity that will coordinate the development of the regional |
| 1078 | transportation plan; delineate the boundaries of the regional |
| 1079 | transportation area; provide the duration of the agreement and |
| 1080 | specify how the agreement may be terminated, modified, or |
| 1081 | rescinded; describe the process by which the regional |
| 1082 | transportation plan will be developed; and provide how members |
| 1083 | of the entity will resolve disagreements regarding |
| 1084 | interpretation of the interlocal agreement or disputes relating |
| 1085 | to the development or content of the regional transportation |
| 1086 | plan. Such interlocal agreement shall become effective upon its |
| 1087 | recordation in the official public records of each county in the |
| 1088 | regional transportation area. |
| 1089 | (e) The regional transportation plan developed pursuant to |
| 1090 | this section must, at a minimum, identify regionally significant |
| 1091 | transportation facilities located within a regional |
| 1092 | transportation area and contain a prioritized list of regionally |
| 1093 | significant projects. The level-of-service standards for |
| 1094 | facilities to be funded under this subsection shall be adopted |
| 1095 | by the appropriate local government in accordance with s. |
| 1096 | 163.3180(10). The projects shall be adopted into the capital |
| 1097 | improvements schedule of the local government comprehensive plan |
| 1098 | pursuant to s. 163.3177(3). |
| 1099 | (5)(6) PROCEDURES FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN |
| 1100 | TRANSPORTATION PLANNING.- |
| 1101 | (a) During the development of the long-range component of |
| 1102 | the Florida Transportation Plan and prior to substantive |
| 1103 | revisions, the department shall provide citizens, affected |
| 1104 | public agencies, representatives of transportation agency |
| 1105 | employees, other affected employee representatives, private |
| 1106 | providers of transportation, and other known interested parties |
| 1107 | with an opportunity to comment on the proposed plan or |
| 1108 | revisions. These opportunities shall include, at a minimum, |
| 1109 | publishing a notice in the Florida Administrative Weekly and |
| 1110 | within a newspaper of general circulation within the area of |
| 1111 | each department district office. |
| 1112 | (b) During development of major transportation |
| 1113 | improvements, such as those increasing the capacity of a |
| 1114 | facility through the addition of new lanes or providing new |
| 1115 | access to a limited or controlled access facility or |
| 1116 | construction of a facility in a new location, the department |
| 1117 | shall hold one or more hearings prior to the selection of the |
| 1118 | facility to be provided; prior to the selection of the site or |
| 1119 | corridor of the proposed facility; and prior to the selection of |
| 1120 | and commitment to a specific design proposal for the proposed |
| 1121 | facility. Such public hearings shall be conducted so as to |
| 1122 | provide an opportunity for effective participation by interested |
| 1123 | persons in the process of transportation planning and site and |
| 1124 | route selection and in the specific location and design of |
| 1125 | transportation facilities. The various factors involved in the |
| 1126 | decision or decisions and any alternative proposals shall be |
| 1127 | clearly presented so that the persons attending the hearing may |
| 1128 | present their views relating to the decision or decisions which |
| 1129 | will be made. |
| 1130 | (c) Opportunity for design hearings: |
| 1131 | 1. The department, prior to holding a design hearing, |
| 1132 | shall duly notify all affected property owners of record, as |
| 1133 | recorded in the property appraiser's office, by mail at least 20 |
| 1134 | days prior to the date set for the hearing. The affected |
| 1135 | property owners shall be: |
| 1136 | a. Those whose property lies in whole or in part within |
| 1137 | 300 feet on either side of the centerline of the proposed |
| 1138 | facility. |
| 1139 | b. Those whom the department determines will be |
| 1140 | substantially affected environmentally, economically, socially, |
| 1141 | or safetywise. |
| 1142 | 2. For each subsequent hearing, the department shall |
| 1143 | publish notice prior to the hearing date in a newspaper of |
| 1144 | general circulation for the area affected. These notices must be |
| 1145 | published twice, with the first notice appearing at least 15 |
| 1146 | days, but no later than 30 days, before the hearing. |
| 1147 | 3. A copy of the notice of opportunity for the hearing |
| 1148 | must be furnished to the United States Department of |
| 1149 | Transportation and to the appropriate departments of the state |
| 1150 | government at the time of publication. |
| 1151 | 4. The opportunity for another hearing shall be afforded |
| 1152 | in any case when proposed locations or designs are so changed |
| 1153 | from those presented in the notices specified above or at a |
| 1154 | hearing as to have a substantially different social, economic, |
| 1155 | or environmental effect. |
| 1156 | 5. The opportunity for a hearing shall be afforded in each |
| 1157 | case in which the department is in doubt as to whether a hearing |
| 1158 | is required. |
| 1159 | Section 18. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section |
| 1160 | 339.175, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1161 | 339.175 Metropolitan planning organization.- |
| 1162 | (4) APPORTIONMENT.- |
| 1163 | (a) The Governor shall, with the agreement of the affected |
| 1164 | units of general-purpose local government as required by federal |
| 1165 | rules and regulations, apportion the membership on the |
| 1166 | applicable M.P.O. among the various governmental entities within |
| 1167 | the area. At the request of a majority of the affected units of |
| 1168 | general-purpose local government comprising an M.P.O., the |
| 1169 | Governor and a majority of units of general-purpose local |
| 1170 | government serving on an M.P.O. shall cooperatively agree upon |
| 1171 | and prescribe who may serve as an alternate member and a method |
| 1172 | for appointing alternate members who may vote at any M.P.O. |
| 1173 | meeting that an alternate member attends in place of a regular |
| 1174 | member. The method shall be set forth as a part of the |
| 1175 | interlocal agreement describing the M.P.O.'s membership or in |
| 1176 | the M.P.O.'s operating procedures and bylaws. The governmental |
| 1177 | entity so designated shall appoint the appropriate number of |
| 1178 | members to the M.P.O. from eligible officials. Representatives |
| 1179 | of the department shall serve as nonvoting advisers to members |
| 1180 | of the M.P.O. governing board. Additional nonvoting advisers may |
| 1181 | be appointed by the M.P.O. as deemed necessary; however, to the |
| 1182 | maximum extent feasible, each M.P.O. shall seek to appoint |
| 1183 | nonvoting representatives of various multimodal forms of |
| 1184 | transportation not otherwise represented by voting members of |
| 1185 | the M.P.O. An M.P.O. shall appoint nonvoting advisers |
| 1186 | representing major military installations located within the |
| 1187 | jurisdictional boundaries of the M.P.O. upon the request of the |
| 1188 | aforesaid major military installations and subject to the |
| 1189 | agreement of the M.P.O. All nonvoting advisers may attend and |
| 1190 | participate fully in governing board meetings but shall not have |
| 1191 | a vote and shall not be members of the governing board. The |
| 1192 | Governor shall review the composition of the M.P.O. membership |
| 1193 | in conjunction with the decennial census as prepared by the |
| 1194 | United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, and |
| 1195 | reapportion it as necessary to comply with subsection (3). |
| 1196 | Section 19. Subsection (2) of section 339.63, Florida |
| 1197 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1198 | 339.63 System facilities designated; additions and |
| 1199 | deletions.- |
| 1200 | (2) The Strategic Intermodal System and the Emerging |
| 1201 | Strategic Intermodal System include four three different types |
| 1202 | of facilities that each form one component of an interconnected |
| 1203 | transportation system which types include: |
| 1204 | (a) Existing or planned hubs that are ports and terminals |
| 1205 | including airports, seaports, spaceports, passenger terminals, |
| 1206 | and rail terminals serving to move goods or people between |
| 1207 | Florida regions or between Florida and other markets in the |
| 1208 | United States and the rest of the world.; |
| 1209 | (b) Existing or planned corridors that are highways, rail |
| 1210 | lines, waterways, and other exclusive-use facilities connecting |
| 1211 | major markets within Florida or between Florida and other states |
| 1212 | or nations.; and |
| 1213 | (c) Existing or planned intermodal connectors that are |
| 1214 | highways, rail lines, waterways or local public transit systems |
| 1215 | serving as connectors between the components listed in |
| 1216 | paragraphs (a) and (b). |
| 1217 | (d) Existing or planned military access facilities that |
| 1218 | are highways or rail lines linking Strategic Intermodal System |
| 1219 | corridors to the state's strategic military installations. |
| 1220 | Section 20. Section 339.64, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 1221 | to read: |
| 1222 | 339.64 Strategic Intermodal System Plan.- |
| 1223 | (1) The department shall develop, in cooperation with |
| 1224 | metropolitan planning organizations, regional planning councils, |
| 1225 | local governments, the Statewide Intermodal Transportation |
| 1226 | Advisory Council and other transportation providers, a Strategic |
| 1227 | Intermodal System Plan. The plan shall be consistent with the |
| 1228 | Florida Transportation Plan developed pursuant to s. 339.155 and |
| 1229 | shall be updated at least once every 5 years, subsequent to |
| 1230 | updates of the Florida Transportation Plan. |
| 1231 | (2) In association with the continued development of the |
| 1232 | Strategic Intermodal System Plan, the Florida Transportation |
| 1233 | Commission, as part of its work program review process, shall |
| 1234 | conduct an annual assessment of the progress that the department |
| 1235 | and its transportation partners have made in realizing the goals |
| 1236 | of economic development, improved mobility, and increased |
| 1237 | intermodal connectivity of the Strategic Intermodal System. The |
| 1238 | Florida Transportation Commission shall coordinate with the |
| 1239 | department, the Statewide Intermodal Transportation Advisory |
| 1240 | Council, and other appropriate entities when developing this |
| 1241 | assessment. The Florida Transportation Commission shall deliver |
| 1242 | a report to the Governor and Legislature no later than 14 days |
| 1243 | after the regular session begins, with recommendations as |
| 1244 | necessary to fully implement the Strategic Intermodal System. |
| 1245 | (3)(a) During the development of updates to the Strategic |
| 1246 | Intermodal System Plan, the department shall provide |
| 1247 | metropolitan planning organizations, regional planning councils, |
| 1248 | local governments, transportation providers, affected public |
| 1249 | agencies, and citizens with an opportunity to participate in and |
| 1250 | comment on the development of the update. |
| 1251 | (b) The department also shall coordinate with federal, |
| 1252 | regional, and local partners the planning for the Strategic |
| 1253 | Highway Network and the Strategic Rail Corridor Network |
| 1254 | transportation facilities that either are included in the |
| 1255 | Strategic Intermodal System or that provide a direct connection |
| 1256 | between military installations and the Strategic Intermodal |
| 1257 | System. In addition, the department shall coordinate with |
| 1258 | regional and local partners to determine whether the road and |
| 1259 | other transportation infrastructure that connect military |
| 1260 | installations to the Strategic Intermodal System, the Strategic |
| 1261 | Highway Network, or the Strategic Rail Corridor is regionally |
| 1262 | significant and should be included in the Strategic Intermodal |
| 1263 | System Plan. |
| 1264 | (4) The Strategic Intermodal System Plan shall include the |
| 1265 | following: |
| 1266 | (a) A needs assessment. |
| 1267 | (b) A project prioritization process. |
| 1268 | (c) A map of facilities designated as Strategic Intermodal |
| 1269 | System facilities; facilities that are emerging in importance |
| 1270 | and that are likely to become part of the system in the future; |
| 1271 | and planned facilities that will meet the established criteria. |
| 1272 | (d) A finance plan based on reasonable projections of |
| 1273 | anticipated revenues, including both 10-year and at least 20- |
| 1274 | year cost-feasible components. |
| 1275 | (e) An assessment of the impacts of proposed improvements |
| 1276 | to Strategic Intermodal System corridors on military |
| 1277 | installations that are either located directly on the Strategic |
| 1278 | Intermodal System or located on the Strategic Highway Network or |
| 1279 | Strategic Rail Corridor Network. |
| 1280 | (5) STATEWIDE INTERMODAL TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COUNCIL.- |
| 1281 | (a) The Statewide Intermodal Transportation Advisory |
| 1282 | Council is created to advise and make recommendations to the |
| 1283 | Legislature and the department on policies, planning, and |
| 1284 | funding of intermodal transportation projects. The council's |
| 1285 | responsibilities shall include: |
| 1286 | 1. Advising the department on the policies, planning, and |
| 1287 | implementation of strategies related to intermodal |
| 1288 | transportation. |
| 1289 | 2. Providing advice and recommendations to the Legislature |
| 1290 | on funding for projects to move goods and people in the most |
| 1291 | efficient and effective manner for the State of Florida. |
| 1292 | (b) MEMBERSHIP.-Members of the Statewide Intermodal |
| 1293 | Transportation Advisory Council shall consist of the following: |
| 1294 | 1. Six intermodal industry representatives selected by the |
| 1295 | Governor as follows: |
| 1296 | a. One representative from an airport involved in the |
| 1297 | movement of freight and people from their airport facility to |
| 1298 | another transportation mode. |
| 1299 | b. One individual representing a fixed-route, local- |
| 1300 | government transit system. |
| 1301 | c. One representative from an intercity bus company |
| 1302 | providing regularly scheduled bus travel as determined by |
| 1303 | federal regulations. |
| 1304 | d. One representative from a spaceport. |
| 1305 | e. One representative from intermodal trucking companies. |
| 1306 | f. One representative having command responsibilities of a |
| 1307 | major military installation. |
| 1308 | 2. Three intermodal industry representatives selected by |
| 1309 | the President of the Senate as follows: |
| 1310 | a. One representative from major-line railroads. |
| 1311 | b. One representative from seaports listed in s. 311.09(1) |
| 1312 | from the Atlantic Coast. |
| 1313 | c. One representative from an airport involved in the |
| 1314 | movement of freight and people from their airport facility to |
| 1315 | another transportation mode. |
| 1316 | 3. Three intermodal industry representatives selected by |
| 1317 | the Speaker of the House of Representatives as follows: |
| 1318 | a. One representative from short-line railroads. |
| 1319 | b. One representative from seaports listed in s. 311.09(1) |
| 1320 | from the Gulf Coast. |
| 1321 | c. One representative from intermodal trucking companies. |
| 1322 | In no event may this representative be employed by the same |
| 1323 | company that employs the intermodal trucking company |
| 1324 | representative selected by the Governor. |
| 1325 | (c) Initial appointments to the council must be made no |
| 1326 | later than 30 days after the effective date of this section. |
| 1327 | 1. The initial appointments made by the President of the |
| 1328 | Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall |
| 1329 | serve terms concurrent with those of the respective appointing |
| 1330 | officer. Beginning January 15, 2005, and for all subsequent |
| 1331 | appointments, council members appointed by the President of the |
| 1332 | Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall |
| 1333 | serve 2-year terms, concurrent with the term of the respective |
| 1334 | appointing officer. |
| 1335 | 2. The initial appointees, and all subsequent appointees, |
| 1336 | made by the Governor shall serve 2-year terms. |
| 1337 | 3. Vacancies on the council shall be filled in the same |
| 1338 | manner as the initial appointments. |
| 1339 | (d) Each member of the council shall be allowed one vote. |
| 1340 | The council shall select a chair from among its membership. |
| 1341 | Meetings shall be held at the call of the chair, but not less |
| 1342 | frequently than quarterly. The members of the council shall be |
| 1343 | reimbursed for per diem and travel expenses as provided in s. |
| 1344 | 112.061. |
| 1345 | (e) The department shall provide administrative staff |
| 1346 | support and shall ensure that council meetings are |
| 1347 | electronically recorded. Such recordings and all documents |
| 1348 | received, prepared for, or used by the council in conducting its |
| 1349 | business shall be preserved pursuant to chapters 119 and 257. |
| 1350 | Section 21. Section 339.65, Florida Statutes, is created |
| 1351 | to read: |
| 1352 | 339.65 Strategic Intermodal System highway corridors.- |
| 1353 | (1) The department shall plan and develop Strategic |
| 1354 | Intermodal System highway corridors, including limited and |
| 1355 | controlled access facilities, allowing for high-speed and high- |
| 1356 | volume traffic movements within the state. The primary function |
| 1357 | of these corridors is to provide such traffic movements. Access |
| 1358 | to abutting land is subordinate to this function, and such |
| 1359 | access must be prohibited or highly regulated. |
| 1360 | (2) Strategic Intermodal System highway corridors shall |
| 1361 | include facilities from the following components of the State |
| 1362 | Highway System that meet the criteria adopted by the department |
| 1363 | pursuant to s. 339.63: |
| 1364 | (a) Interstate highways. |
| 1365 | (b) The Florida Turnpike System. |
| 1366 | (c) Interregional and intercity limited access facilities. |
| 1367 | (d) Existing interregional and intercity arterial highways |
| 1368 | previously upgraded or upgraded in the future to limited access |
| 1369 | or controlled access facility standards. |
| 1370 | (e) New limited access facilities necessary to complete a |
| 1371 | balanced statewide system. |
| 1372 | (3) The department shall adhere to the following policy |
| 1373 | guidelines in the development of Strategic Intermodal System |
| 1374 | highway corridors: |
| 1375 | (a) Make capacity improvements to existing facilities |
| 1376 | where feasible to minimize costs and environmental impacts. |
| 1377 | (b) Identify appropriate arterial highways in major |
| 1378 | transportation corridors for inclusion in a program to bring |
| 1379 | these facilities up to limited access or controlled access |
| 1380 | facility standards. |
| 1381 | (c) Coordinate proposed projects with appropriate limited |
| 1382 | access projects undertaken by expressway authorities and local |
| 1383 | governmental entities. |
| 1384 | (d) Maximize the use of limited access facility standards |
| 1385 | when constructing new arterial highways. |
| 1386 | (e) Identify appropriate new limited access highways for |
| 1387 | inclusion as a part of the Florida Turnpike System. |
| 1388 | (f) To the maximum extent feasible, ensure that proposed |
| 1389 | projects are consistent with approved local government |
| 1390 | comprehensive plans of the local jurisdictions in which such |
| 1391 | facilities are to be located and with the transportation |
| 1392 | improvement program of any metropolitan planning organization in |
| 1393 | which such facilities are to be located. |
| 1394 | (4) The department shall develop and maintain a plan of |
| 1395 | Strategic Intermodal System highway corridor projects that are |
| 1396 | anticipated to be let to contract for construction within a time |
| 1397 | period of at least 20 years. The plan shall also identify when |
| 1398 | segments of the corridor will meet the standards and criteria |
| 1399 | developed pursuant to subsection (5). |
| 1400 | (5) The department shall establish the standards and |
| 1401 | criteria for the functional characteristics and design of |
| 1402 | facilities proposed as part of Strategic Intermodal System |
| 1403 | highway corridors. |
| 1404 | (6) For the purposes of developing the proposed Strategic |
| 1405 | Intermodal System highway corridors, beginning in fiscal year |
| 1406 | 2003-2004 and for each fiscal year thereafter, the minimum |
| 1407 | amount allocated shall be based on the fiscal year 2003-2004 |
| 1408 | allocation of $450 million adjusted annually by the change in |
| 1409 | the Consumer Price Index for the prior fiscal year compared to |
| 1410 | the Consumer Price Index for fiscal year 2003-2004. |
| 1411 | (7) Any project to be constructed as part of a Strategic |
| 1412 | Intermodal System highway corridor shall be included in the |
| 1413 | department's adopted work program. Any Strategic Intermodal |
| 1414 | System highway corridor projects that are added to or deleted |
| 1415 | from the previous adopted work program, or any modification to |
| 1416 | Strategic Intermodal System highway corridor projects contained |
| 1417 | in the previous adopted work program, shall be specifically |
| 1418 | identified and submitted as a separate part of the tentative |
| 1419 | work program. |
| 1420 | Section 22. Subsection (3) of section 341.302, Florida |
| 1421 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1422 | 341.302 Rail program; duties and responsibilities of the |
| 1423 | department.-The department, in conjunction with other |
| 1424 | governmental entities, including the rail enterprise and the |
| 1425 | private sector, shall develop and implement a rail program of |
| 1426 | statewide application designed to ensure the proper maintenance, |
| 1427 | safety, revitalization, and expansion of the rail system to |
| 1428 | assure its continued and increased availability to respond to |
| 1429 | statewide mobility needs. Within the resources provided pursuant |
| 1430 | to chapter 216, and as authorized under federal law, the |
| 1431 | department shall: |
| 1432 | (3) Develop and periodically update the rail system plan, |
| 1433 | on the basis of an analysis of statewide transportation needs. |
| 1434 | (a) The plan may contain detailed regional components, |
| 1435 | consistent with regional transportation plans, as needed to |
| 1436 | ensure connectivity within the state's regions, and it shall be |
| 1437 | consistent with the Florida Transportation Plan developed |
| 1438 | pursuant to s. 339.155. The rail system plan shall include an |
| 1439 | identification of priorities, programs, and funding levels |
| 1440 | required to meet statewide and regional needs. The rail system |
| 1441 | plan shall be developed in a manner that will assure the maximum |
| 1442 | use of existing facilities and the optimum integration and |
| 1443 | coordination of the various modes of transportation, public and |
| 1444 | private, in the most cost-effective manner possible. The rail |
| 1445 | system plan shall be updated no later than January 1, 2011, and |
| 1446 | at least every 5 years thereafter, and include plans for both |
| 1447 | passenger rail service and freight rail service, accompanied by |
| 1448 | a report to the Legislature regarding the status of the plan. |
| 1449 | (b) In recognition of the department's role in the |
| 1450 | enhancement of the state's rail system to improve freight and |
| 1451 | passenger mobility, the department shall: |
| 1452 | 1. Work closely with all affected communities along an |
| 1453 | impacted freight rail corridor to identify and address |
| 1454 | anticipated impacts associated with an increase in freight rail |
| 1455 | traffic due to implementation of passenger rail. |
| 1456 | 2. In coordination with the affected local governments and |
| 1457 | CSX Transportation, Inc., finalize all viable alternatives from |
| 1458 | the department's Rail Traffic Evaluation Study to identify and |
| 1459 | develop an alternative route for through freight rail traffic |
| 1460 | moving through Central Florida, including the counties of Polk |
| 1461 | and Hillsborough, which would address, to the extent |
| 1462 | practicable, the effects of commuter rail. |
| 1463 | 3. Provide technical assistance to a coalition of local |
| 1464 | governments in Central Florida, including the counties of |
| 1465 | Brevard, Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lake, Marion, Orange, |
| 1466 | Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Manatee, Sarasota, Seminole, |
| 1467 | Sumter, and Volusia, and the municipalities within those |
| 1468 | counties, to develop a regional rail system plan that addresses |
| 1469 | passenger and freight opportunities in the region, is consistent |
| 1470 | with the Florida Rail System Plan, and incorporates appropriate |
| 1471 | elements of the Tampa Bay Area Regional Authority Master Plan, |
| 1472 | the Metroplan Orlando Regional Transit System Concept Plan, |
| 1473 | including the SunRail project, and the Florida Department of |
| 1474 | Transportation Alternate Rail Traffic Evaluation. |
| 1475 | 4. Provide for, to the extent funds are available and |
| 1476 | funding for high hazard grade crossing safety projects is not |
| 1477 | adversely affected: |
| 1478 | a. Construction of supplemental safety measures, known as |
| 1479 | quadrant gates, as authorized by the Federal Railroad |
| 1480 | Administration for quiet zone crossings, at any rail crossing |
| 1481 | located along a passenger rail corridor and giving priority to |
| 1482 | such projects in areas where a one-to-one local match is |
| 1483 | available; and |
| 1484 | b. Improvements at multimodal transportation centers, only |
| 1485 | for the period of time that the passenger rail system is |
| 1486 | operated and maintained by the department, that serve more than |
| 1487 | one transportation mode, including, but not limited to, buses, |
| 1488 | bicycles, and passenger rail, in an effort to maximize the |
| 1489 | benefits of a passenger rail system. Priority shall be given to |
| 1490 | multimodal transportation centers that have established the |
| 1491 | regulatory framework for transit-oriented development in and |
| 1492 | around its downtown service area. |
| 1493 | Section 23. Paragraph (c) of subsection (4) of section |
| 1494 | 348.0003, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1495 | 348.0003 Expressway authority; formation; membership.- |
| 1496 | (4) |
| 1497 | (c) Members of each expressway authority, transportation |
| 1498 | authority, bridge authority, or toll authority, created pursuant |
| 1499 | to this chapter, chapter 343, or chapter 349 or any other |
| 1500 | general legislative enactment shall comply with the applicable |
| 1501 | financial disclosure requirements of s. 8, Art. II of the State |
| 1502 | Constitution. This paragraph does not subject any statutorily |
| 1503 | created authority, other than an expressway authority created |
| 1504 | under this part, to any other requirement of this part except |
| 1505 | the requirement of this paragraph. |
| 1506 | Section 24. Subsection (3) of section 349.03, Florida |
| 1507 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1508 | 349.03 Jacksonville Transportation Authority.- |
| 1509 | (3)(a) The terms of appointed members shall be for 4 years |
| 1510 | deemed to have commenced on June 1 of the year in which they are |
| 1511 | appointed. Each member shall hold office until a successor has |
| 1512 | been appointed and has qualified. A vacancy during a term shall |
| 1513 | be filled by the respective appointing authority only for the |
| 1514 | balance of the unexpired term. Any member appointed to the |
| 1515 | authority for two consecutive full terms shall not be eligible |
| 1516 | for appointment to the next succeeding term. One of the members |
| 1517 | so appointed shall be designated annually by the members as |
| 1518 | chair of the authority, one member shall be designated annually |
| 1519 | as the vice chair of the authority, one member shall be |
| 1520 | designated annually as the secretary of the authority, and one |
| 1521 | member shall be designated annually as the treasurer of the |
| 1522 | authority. The members of the authority shall not be entitled to |
| 1523 | compensation, but shall be reimbursed for travel expenses or |
| 1524 | other expenses actually incurred in their duties as provided by |
| 1525 | law. Four voting members of the authority shall constitute a |
| 1526 | quorum, and no resolution adopted by the authority shall become |
| 1527 | effective unless with the affirmative vote of at least four |
| 1528 | members. Members of the authority shall file as their mandatory |
| 1529 | financial disclosure a statement of financial interest with the |
| 1530 | Commission on Ethics as provided in s. 112.3145(2)(b). |
| 1531 | (b) The authority shall employ an executive director, and |
| 1532 | the executive director may hire such staff, permanent or |
| 1533 | temporary, as he or she may determine and may organize the staff |
| 1534 | of the authority into such departments and units as he or she |
| 1535 | may determine. The executive director may appoint department |
| 1536 | directors, deputy directors, division chiefs, and staff |
| 1537 | assistants to the executive director, as he or she may |
| 1538 | determine. In so appointing the executive director, the |
| 1539 | authority may fix the compensation of such appointee, who shall |
| 1540 | serve at the pleasure of the authority. All employees of the |
| 1541 | authority shall be exempt from the provisions of part II of |
| 1542 | chapter 110. The authority may employ such financial advisers |
| 1543 | and consultants, technical experts, engineers, and agents and |
| 1544 | employees, permanent or temporary, as it may require and may fix |
| 1545 | the compensation and qualifications of such persons, firms, or |
| 1546 | corporations. The authority may delegate to one or more of its |
| 1547 | agents or employees such of its powers as it shall deem |
| 1548 | necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter, subject |
| 1549 | always to the supervision and control of the governing body of |
| 1550 | the authority. |
| 1551 | Section 25. Subsection (8) is added to section 349.04, |
| 1552 | Florida Statutes, to read: |
| 1553 | 349.04 Purposes and powers.- |
| 1554 | (8) The authority may conduct public meetings and |
| 1555 | workshops by means of communications media technology, as |
| 1556 | provided in s. 120.54(5). However, a resolution, rule, or formal |
| 1557 | action is not binding unless a quorum is physically present at |
| 1558 | the noticed meeting location, and only members physically |
| 1559 | present may vote on any item. |
| 1560 | Section 26. Subsection (6) is added to section 373.413, |
| 1561 | Florida Statutes, to read: |
| 1562 | 373.413 Permits for construction or alteration.- |
| 1563 | (6) It is the intent of the Legislature that the governing |
| 1564 | board or department exercise flexibility in the permitting of |
| 1565 | stormwater management systems associated with the construction |
| 1566 | or alteration of systems serving state transportation projects |
| 1567 | and facilities. Because of the unique limitations of linear |
| 1568 | facilities, the governing board or department shall balance the |
| 1569 | expenditure of public funds for stormwater treatment for state |
| 1570 | transportation projects and facilities with the benefits to the |
| 1571 | public in providing the most cost efficient and effective method |
| 1572 | of achieving the treatment objectives. In consideration thereof, |
| 1573 | the governing board or department shall allow alternatives to |
| 1574 | onsite treatment, including, but not limited to, regional |
| 1575 | stormwater treatment systems. The Department of Transportation |
| 1576 | is responsible for treating stormwater generated from state |
| 1577 | transportation projects but is not responsible for the abatement |
| 1578 | of pollutants and flows entering its stormwater management |
| 1579 | systems from offsite. However, this subsection does not prohibit |
| 1580 | the Department of Transportation from receiving and managing |
| 1581 | such pollutants and flows when it is found to be cost-effective |
| 1582 | and prudent. Further, in association with rights-of-way |
| 1583 | acquisition for state transportation projects, the Department of |
| 1584 | Transportation is responsible for providing stormwater treatment |
| 1585 | and attenuation for additional rights-of-way, but is not |
| 1586 | responsible for modifying permits of adjacent lands when it is |
| 1587 | not the permittee. To accomplish this, the governing board or |
| 1588 | department shall adopt rules for these activities. |
| 1589 | Section 27. Section 479.075, Florida Statutes, is created |
| 1590 | to read: |
| 1591 | 479.075 Sign permit fee limitations.- |
| 1592 | (1) As used in this section, the term: |
| 1593 | (a) "Sign" means any sign, wall mural, or media tower as |
| 1594 | defined in s. 479.01 or as defined by a local government |
| 1595 | agreement, resolution, or ordinance. |
| 1596 | (b) "Sign permit fee" means any payment required as a |
| 1597 | condition for building, erecting, inspecting, renewing, |
| 1598 | maintaining, operating, relocating, or reconstructing a sign or |
| 1599 | required pursuant to any agreement, ordinance, or resolution |
| 1600 | that includes any provision relating to the issuance of a sign |
| 1601 | permit or otherwise authorizing the building, erection, |
| 1602 | inspection, renewal, maintenance, operation, relocation, or |
| 1603 | reconstruction of a sign. |
| 1604 | (2) A local government may establish by agreement, |
| 1605 | resolution, or ordinance a sign permit fee schedule and may |
| 1606 | assess fees for sign permits. The fee schedule must be based on |
| 1607 | the actual cost of administering the local government sign |
| 1608 | permitting program, the fee may not exceed the actual cost of |
| 1609 | administering the program, and the local government shall |
| 1610 | maintain information to justify the cost of administering the |
| 1611 | program. |
| 1612 | (3) The provisions of this section do not apply to a sign |
| 1613 | on property which a governmental entity has a property interest. |
| 1614 | This section does not affect the validity of any other aspect of |
| 1615 | any agreement, resolution, or ordinance regarding signs or |
| 1616 | require the removal of any sign or repayment of any fees already |
| 1617 | paid. A local government that requires the removal of a sign as |
| 1618 | the result of the adoption of this section must adhere to the |
| 1619 | provision of s. 70.20(2). |
| 1620 | Section 28. Section 479.106, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 1621 | to read: |
| 1622 | 479.106 Vegetation management.- |
| 1623 | (1) The removal, cutting, or trimming of trees or |
| 1624 | vegetation on public right-of-way to make visible or to ensure |
| 1625 | future visibility of the facing of a proposed sign or previously |
| 1626 | permitted sign shall be performed only with the written |
| 1627 | permission of the department in accordance with the provisions |
| 1628 | of this section. |
| 1629 | (2) Any person desiring to engage in the removal, cutting, |
| 1630 | or trimming of trees or vegetation for the purposes herein |
| 1631 | described shall apply for an appropriate permit by make written |
| 1632 | application to the department. The application for a permit |
| 1633 | shall include, at the election of the applicant, one of the |
| 1634 | following: |
| 1635 | (a) A vegetation management plan consisting of a property |
| 1636 | sketch indicating the onsite location of the vegetation or |
| 1637 | individual trees to be removed, cut, or trimmed and describing |
| 1638 | the existing conditions and proposed work to be accomplished. |
| 1639 | (b) Mitigation contribution to the Federal Grants Trust |
| 1640 | Fund pursuant to s. 589.277(2) using values of a wholesale plant |
| 1641 | nursery registered with the Division of Plant Industry of the |
| 1642 | Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. |
| 1643 | (c) A combination of both a vegetation management plan and |
| 1644 | mitigation contribution the applicant's plan for the removal, |
| 1645 | cutting, or trimming and for the management of any vegetation |
| 1646 | planted as part of a mitigation plan. |
| 1647 | (3) In evaluating a vegetation management plan or |
| 1648 | mitigation contribution, the department As a condition of any |
| 1649 | removal of trees or vegetation, and where the department deems |
| 1650 | appropriate as a condition of any cutting or trimming, the |
| 1651 | department may require a vegetation management plan, approved by |
| 1652 | the department, which considers conservation and mitigation, or |
| 1653 | contribution to a plan of mitigation, for the replacement of |
| 1654 | such vegetation. Each plan or contribution shall reasonably |
| 1655 | evaluate the application as it relates relate to the vegetation |
| 1656 | being affected by the application, taking into consideration the |
| 1657 | condition of such vegetation, and, where appropriate, require a |
| 1658 | vegetation management plan to consider conservation and |
| 1659 | mitigation, or a contribution to a plan of mitigation, for the |
| 1660 | cutting or removal of such vegetation. The department may |
| 1661 | approve shall include plantings that which will allow reasonable |
| 1662 | visibility of sign facings while screening sign structural |
| 1663 | supports. Only herbicides approved by the Department of |
| 1664 | Agriculture and Consumer Services may be used in the removal of |
| 1665 | vegetation. The department shall act on the application for |
| 1666 | approval of vegetation management plans, or approval of |
| 1667 | mitigation contribution, within 30 days after receipt of such |
| 1668 | application. A permit issued in response to such application is |
| 1669 | valid for 5 years, may be renewed for an additional 5 years by |
| 1670 | payment of the applicable application fee, and is binding upon |
| 1671 | the department. The department may establish special mitigation |
| 1672 | programs for the beautification and aesthetic improvement of |
| 1673 | designated areas and permit individual applicants to contribute |
| 1674 | to such programs as a part or in lieu of other mitigation |
| 1675 | requirements. |
| 1676 | (4) The department may establish an application fee not to |
| 1677 | exceed $25 for each individual application to defer the costs of |
| 1678 | processing such application and a fee not to exceed $200 to |
| 1679 | defer the costs of processing an application for multiple sites. |
| 1680 | (5) The department may only grant a permit pursuant to s. |
| 1681 | 479.07 for a new sign which requires the removal, cutting, or |
| 1682 | trimming of existing trees or vegetation on public right-of-way |
| 1683 | for the sign face to be visible from the highway when the sign |
| 1684 | owner has removed one at least two nonconforming sign signs of |
| 1685 | approximate comparable size and surrendered the permits for the |
| 1686 | nonconforming signs to the department for cancellation. For |
| 1687 | signs originally permitted after July 1, 1996, no permit for the |
| 1688 | removal, cutting, or trimming of trees or vegetation shall be |
| 1689 | granted where such trees or vegetation are part of a |
| 1690 | beautification project implemented prior to the date of the |
| 1691 | original sign permit application, when the beautification |
| 1692 | project is specifically identified in the department's |
| 1693 | construction plans, permitted landscape projects, or agreements. |
| 1694 | (6) As a minimum, view zones shall be established along |
| 1695 | the public rights-of-way of interstate highways, expressways, |
| 1696 | federal-aid primary highways, and the State Highway System in |
| 1697 | the state, excluding privately or other publicly owned property, |
| 1698 | as follows: |
| 1699 | (a) A view zone of 350 feet for posted speed limits of 35 |
| 1700 | miles per hour or less. |
| 1701 | (b) A view zone of 500 feet for posted speed limits of |
| 1702 | more than 35 miles per hour. |
| 1703 |
|
| 1704 | The established view zone shall be within the first 1,000 feet |
| 1705 | measured along the edge of the pavement in the direction of |
| 1706 | approaching traffic from a point on the edge of the pavement |
| 1707 | perpendicular to the edge of the sign facing nearest the highway |
| 1708 | and shall be continuous unless interrupted by vegetation that |
| 1709 | has established historical significance, is protected by state |
| 1710 | law, or has a circumference, measured at 4 and 1/2 feet above |
| 1711 | grade, equal to or greater than 70 percent of the circumference |
| 1712 | of the Florida Champion of the same species as listed in the |
| 1713 | Florida Register of Big Trees of the Florida Native Plant |
| 1714 | Society. The sign owner may designate the specific location of |
| 1715 | the view zone for each sign facing. In the absence of such |
| 1716 | designation, the established view zone shall be measured from |
| 1717 | the sign along the edge of the pavement in the direction of |
| 1718 | approaching traffic as provided in this subsection. |
| 1719 | (7)(6) Beautification projects, trees, or other vegetation |
| 1720 | shall not be planted or located in the view zone of legally |
| 1721 | erected and permitted outdoor advertising signs which have been |
| 1722 | permitted prior to the date of the beautification project or |
| 1723 | other planting, where such planting will, at the time of |
| 1724 | planting or after future growth, screen such sign from view. The |
| 1725 | department shall provide written notice to the owner not less |
| 1726 | than 90 days before commencing a beautification project or other |
| 1727 | vegetation planting that may affect a sign, allowing such owner |
| 1728 | not less than 60 days to designate the specific location of the |
| 1729 | view zone of such affected sign. A sign owner is not required to |
| 1730 | prepare a vegetation management plan or secure a vegetation |
| 1731 | management permit for the implementation of beautification |
| 1732 | projects. |
| 1733 | (a) View zones are established along the public rights-of- |
| 1734 | way of interstate highways, expressways, federal-aid primary |
| 1735 | highways, and the State Highway System in the state, excluding |
| 1736 | privately or other publicly owned property, as follows: |
| 1737 | 1. A view zone of 350 feet for posted speed limits of 35 |
| 1738 | miles per hour or less. |
| 1739 | 2. A view zone of 500 feet for posted speed limits of over |
| 1740 | 35 miles per hour. |
| 1741 | (b) The established view zone shall be within the first |
| 1742 | 1,000 feet measured along the edge of the pavement in the |
| 1743 | direction of approaching traffic from a point on the edge of the |
| 1744 | pavement perpendicular to the edge of the sign facing nearest |
| 1745 | the highway and shall be continuous unless interrupted by |
| 1746 | existing, naturally occurring vegetation. The department and the |
| 1747 | sign owner may enter into an agreement identifying the specific |
| 1748 | location of the view zone for each sign facing. In the absence |
| 1749 | of such agreement, the established view zone shall be measured |
| 1750 | from the sign along the edge of the pavement in the direction of |
| 1751 | approaching traffic as provided in this subsection. |
| 1752 | (a)(c) If a sign owner alleges any governmental entity or |
| 1753 | other party has violated this subsection, the sign owner must |
| 1754 | provide 90 days' written notice to the governmental entity or |
| 1755 | other party allegedly violating this subsection. If the alleged |
| 1756 | violation is not cured by the governmental entity or other party |
| 1757 | within the 90-day period, the sign owner may file a claim in the |
| 1758 | circuit court where the sign is located. A copy of such |
| 1759 | complaint shall be served contemporaneously upon the |
| 1760 | governmental entity or other party. If the circuit court |
| 1761 | determines a violation of this subsection has occurred, the |
| 1762 | court shall award a claim for compensation equal to the lesser |
| 1763 | of the revenue from the sign lost during the time of screening |
| 1764 | or the fair market value of the sign, and the governmental |
| 1765 | entity or other party shall pay the award of compensation |
| 1766 | subject to available appeal. Any modification or removal of |
| 1767 | material within a beautification project or other planting by |
| 1768 | the governmental entity or other party to cure an alleged |
| 1769 | violation shall not require the issuance of a permit from the |
| 1770 | Department of Transportation provided not less than 48 hours' |
| 1771 | notice is provided to the department of the modification or |
| 1772 | removal of the material. A natural person, private corporation, |
| 1773 | or private partnership licensed under part II of chapter 481 |
| 1774 | providing design services for beautification or other projects |
| 1775 | shall not be subject to a claim of compensation under this |
| 1776 | section when the initial project design meets the requirements |
| 1777 | of this section. |
| 1778 | (b)(d) This subsection shall not apply to the provisions |
| 1779 | of any existing written agreement executed before July 1, 2006, |
| 1780 | between any local government and the owner of an outdoor |
| 1781 | advertising sign. |
| 1782 | (8)(7) Any person engaging in removal, cutting, or |
| 1783 | trimming of trees or vegetation in violation of this section or |
| 1784 | benefiting from such actions shall be subject to an |
| 1785 | administrative penalty of up to $1,000 and required to mitigate |
| 1786 | for the unauthorized removal, cutting, or trimming in such |
| 1787 | manner and in such amount as may be required under the rules of |
| 1788 | the department. |
| 1789 | (9)(8) The intent of this section is to create partnering |
| 1790 | relationships which will have the effect of improving the |
| 1791 | appearance of Florida's highways and creating a net increase in |
| 1792 | the vegetative habitat along the roads. Department rules shall |
| 1793 | encourage the use of plants which are low maintenance and native |
| 1794 | to the general region in which they are planted. |
| 1795 | Section 29. Effective upon this act becoming a law, |
| 1796 | section 3 of chapter 2008-174, Laws of Florida, is amended to |
| 1797 | read: |
| 1798 | Section 3. (1) School districts are encouraged to enter |
| 1799 | into partnerships with local businesses for purposes of |
| 1800 | mentorship opportunities, the development of employment options |
| 1801 | and additional funding sources, and other mutual benefits. |
| 1802 | (2) As a pilot program through June 30, 2013 2011, the |
| 1803 | Palm Beach County school district may recognize its business |
| 1804 | partners by publicly displaying such business partners' names on |
| 1805 | school district property in the unincorporated areas. "Project |
| 1806 | Graduation" and athletic sponsorships are examples of |
| 1807 | appropriate recognition. The district shall make every effort to |
| 1808 | display its business partners' names in a manner that is |
| 1809 | consistent with the county standards for uniformity in size, |
| 1810 | color, and placement of signs. If the provisions of this section |
| 1811 | are inconsistent with the county ordinances or regulations |
| 1812 | relating to signs in the unincorporated areas or inconsistent |
| 1813 | with chapter 125, chapter 166, or chapter 479, Florida Statutes, |
| 1814 | the provisions of this section prevail. |
| 1815 | Section 30. Edna S. Hargrett-Thrower Avenue designated; |
| 1816 | Department of Transportation to erect suitable markers.- |
| 1817 | (1) That portion of Orange Blossom Trail between Gore |
| 1818 | Street and Church Street in Orange County is designated as "Edna |
| 1819 | S. Hargrett-Thrower Avenue." |
| 1820 | (2) The Department of Transportation is directed to erect |
| 1821 | suitable markers designating Edna S. Hargrett-Thrower Avenue as |
| 1822 | described in subsection (1). |
| 1823 | Section 31. SP4 Thomas Berry Corbin Memorial Highway |
| 1824 | designated; Department of Transportation to erect suitable |
| 1825 | markers.- |
| 1826 | (1) That portion of U.S. Highway 19/27A/98/State Road 55 |
| 1827 | between the Suwannee River Bridge and N.E. 592nd Street/Chavous |
| 1828 | Road/Kate Green Road in Dixie County is designated as "SP4 |
| 1829 | Thomas Berry Corbin Memorial Highway." |
| 1830 | (2) The Department of Transportation is directed to erect |
| 1831 | suitable markers designating SP4 Thomas Berry Corbin Memorial |
| 1832 | Highway as described in subsection (1). |
| 1833 | Section 32. U.S. Navy BMC Samuel Calhoun Chavous, Jr. |
| 1834 | Memorial Highway designated; Department of Transportation to |
| 1835 | erect suitable markers.- |
| 1836 | (1) That portion of U.S. Highway 19/98/State Road 55 |
| 1837 | between N.E. 592nd Street/Chavous Road/Kate Green Road and N.E. |
| 1838 | 170th Street in Dixie County is designated as "U.S. Navy BMC |
| 1839 | Samuel Calhoun Chavous, Jr. Memorial Highway." |
| 1840 | (2) The Department of Transportation is directed to erect |
| 1841 | suitable markers designating U.S. Navy BMC Samuel Calhoun |
| 1842 | Chavous, Jr. Memorial Highway as described in subsection (1). |
| 1843 | Section 33. Marine Lance Corporal Brian R. Buesing |
| 1844 | Memorial Highway designated; Department of Transportation to |
| 1845 | erect suitable markers.- |
| 1846 | (1) That portion of State Road 24 between County Road 347 |
| 1847 | and Bridge Number 340053 in Levy County is designated as "Marine |
| 1848 | Lance Corporal Brian R. Buesing Memorial Highway." |
| 1849 | (2) The Department of Transportation is directed to erect |
| 1850 | suitable markers designating Marine Lance Corporal Brian R. |
| 1851 | Buesing Memorial Highway as described in subsection (1). |
| 1852 | Section 34. United States Army Sergeant Karl A. Campbell |
| 1853 | Memorial Highway designated; Department of Transportation to |
| 1854 | erect suitable markers.- |
| 1855 | (1) That portion of U.S. Highway 19/98/State Road 55/S. |
| 1856 | Main Street between N.W. 1st Avenue and S.E. 2nd Avenue in Levy |
| 1857 | County is designated as "United States Army Sergeant Karl A. |
| 1858 | Campbell Memorial Highway." |
| 1859 | (2) The Department of Transportation is directed to erect |
| 1860 | suitable markers designating United States Army Sergeant Karl A. |
| 1861 | Campbell Memorial Highway as described in subsection (1). |
| 1862 | Section 35. U.S. Army SPC James A. Page Memorial Highway |
| 1863 | designated; Department of Transportation to erect suitable |
| 1864 | markers.- |
| 1865 | (1) That portion of U.S. Highway 27A/State Road |
| 1866 | 500/Hathaway Avenue between State Road 24/Thrasher Drive and |
| 1867 | Town Court in Levy County is designated as "U.S. Army SPC James |
| 1868 | A. Page Memorial Highway." |
| 1869 | (2) The Department of Transportation is directed to erect |
| 1870 | suitable markers designating U.S. Army SPC James A. Page |
| 1871 | Memorial Highway as described in subsection (1). |
| 1872 | Section 36. Veterans Memorial Highway designated; |
| 1873 | Department of Transportation to erect suitable markers.- |
| 1874 | (1) That portion of State Road 19 between U.S. Highway |
| 1875 | 17/State Road 15 and Carriage Drive in the City of Palatka in |
| 1876 | Putnam County is designated as "Veterans Memorial Highway." |
| 1877 | (2) The Department of Transportation is directed to erect |
| 1878 | suitable markers designating Veterans Memorial Highway as |
| 1879 | described in subsection (1). |
| 1880 | Section 37. Ben G. Watts Highway designated; Department of |
| 1881 | Transportation to erect suitable markers.- |
| 1882 | (1) That portion of U.S. Highway 90/State Road 10 between |
| 1883 | the Holmes County line and the Jackson County line in Washington |
| 1884 | County is designated as "Ben G. Watts Highway." |
| 1885 | (2) The Department of Transportation is directed to erect |
| 1886 | suitable markers designating Ben G. Watts Highway as described |
| 1887 | in subsection (1). |
| 1888 | Section 38. Mardi Gras Way designated; Department of |
| 1889 | Transportation to erect suitable markers.- |
| 1890 | (1) That portion of State Road 824 between Interstate 95 |
| 1891 | and U.S. Highway 1 in Broward County is designated as "Mardi |
| 1892 | Gras Way." |
| 1893 | (2) The Department of Transportation is directed to erect |
| 1894 | suitable markers designating Mardi Gras Way as described in |
| 1895 | subsection (1). |
| 1896 | Section 39. West Park Boulevard designated; Department of |
| 1897 | Transportation to erect suitable markers.- |
| 1898 | (1) That portion of State Road 7 between Pembroke Road and |
| 1899 | County Line Road in Broward County is designated as "West Park |
| 1900 | Boulevard." |
| 1901 | (2) The Department of Transportation is directed to erect |
| 1902 | suitable markers designating West Park Boulevard as described in |
| 1903 | subsection (1). |
| 1904 | Section 40. Pembroke Park Boulevard designated; Department |
| 1905 | of Transportation to erect suitable markers.- |
| 1906 | (1) That portion of State Road 858/Hallandale Beach |
| 1907 | Boulevard between Interstate 95 and U.S. Highway 441/State Road |
| 1908 | 7 in Broward County is designated as "Pembroke Park Boulevard." |
| 1909 | (2) The Department of Transportation is directed to erect |
| 1910 | suitable markers designating Pembroke Park Boulevard as |
| 1911 | described in subsection (1). |
| 1912 | Section 41. Stark Memorial Drive designated; Department of |
| 1913 | Transportation to erect suitable markers.- |
| 1914 | (1) That portion of State Road 101/Mayport Road between |
| 1915 | State Road A1A and Wonderwood Connector in Duval County is |
| 1916 | designated as "Stark Memorial Drive." |
| 1917 | (2) The Department of Transportation is directed to erect |
| 1918 | suitable markers designating Stark Memorial Drive as described |
| 1919 | in subsection (1). |
| 1920 | Section 42. Duval County Law Enforcement Memorial Overpass |
| 1921 | designated; Department of Transportation to erect suitable |
| 1922 | markers.- |
| 1923 | (1) The Interstate 295/State Road 9A overpass (Bridge |
| 1924 | Numbers 720256 and 720347) over Interstate 10/State Road 8 in |
| 1925 | Duval County is designated as "Duval County Law Enforcement |
| 1926 | Memorial Overpass." |
| 1927 | (2) The Department of Transportation is directed to erect |
| 1928 | suitable markers designating Duval County Law Enforcement |
| 1929 | Memorial Overpass as described in subsection (1). |
| 1930 | Section 43. Verna Bell Way designated; Department of |
| 1931 | Transportation to erect suitable markers.- |
| 1932 | (1) That portion of State Road 200 between Lime Street and |
| 1933 | Beech Street in the City of Fernandina Beach in Nassau County is |
| 1934 | designated as "Verna Bell Way." |
| 1935 | (2) The Department of Transportation is directed to erect |
| 1936 | suitable markers designating Verna Bell Way as described in |
| 1937 | subsection (1). |
| 1938 | Section 44. Deputy Hal P. Croft and Deputy Ronald Jackson |
| 1939 | Memorial Highway designated; Department of Transportation to |
| 1940 | erect suitable markers.- |
| 1941 | (1) That portion of State Road 100 East in Union County |
| 1942 | between the Bradford County line and the Columbia County line is |
| 1943 | designated as "Deputy Hal P. Croft and Deputy Ronald Jackson |
| 1944 | Memorial Highway." |
| 1945 | (2) The Department of Transportation is directed to erect |
| 1946 | suitable markers designating Deputy Hal P. Croft and Deputy |
| 1947 | Ronald Jackson Memorial Highway as described in subsection (1). |
| 1948 | Section 45. Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet Boulevard designated; |
| 1949 | Department of Transportation to erect suitable markers.- |
| 1950 | (1) That portion of Coral Way between S.W. 32nd Avenue and |
| 1951 | S.W. 37th Avenue in Miami-Dade County is designated as "Dr. |
| 1952 | Oscar Elias Biscet Boulevard." |
| 1953 | (2) The Department of Transportation is directed to erect |
| 1954 | suitable markers designating Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet Boulevard as |
| 1955 | described in subsection (1). |
| 1956 | Section 46. Alma Lee Loy Bridge designated; Department of |
| 1957 | Transportation to erect suitable markers.- |
| 1958 | (1) Bridge Number 880077 on State Road 656 between State |
| 1959 | Road A1A and Indian River Boulevard in the City of Vero Beach in |
| 1960 | Indian River County is designated as "Alma Lee Loy Bridge." |
| 1961 | (2) The Department of Transportation is directed to erect |
| 1962 | suitable markers designating Alma Lee Loy Bridge as described |
| 1963 | subsection (1). |
| 1964 | Section 47. Section 24 of chapter 2010-230, Laws of |
| 1965 | Florida, is amended to read: |
| 1966 | Section 24. Miss Lillie Williams Boulevard designated; |
| 1967 | Department of Transportation to erect suitable markers.- |
| 1968 | (1) That portion of N.W. 79th Street between N.W. 6th |
| 1969 | Avenue and N.W. 7th E. 12th Avenue in Miami-Dade County is |
| 1970 | designated as "Miss Lillie Williams Boulevard." |
| 1971 | (2) The Department of Transportation is directed to erect |
| 1972 | suitable markers designating Miss Lillie Williams Boulevard as |
| 1973 | described in subsection (1). |
| 1974 | Section 48. Section 45 of chapter 2010-230, Laws of |
| 1975 | Florida, is amended to read: |
| 1976 | Section 45. Father Gerard Jean-Juste Street designated; |
| 1977 | Department of Transportation to erect suitable markers.- |
| 1978 | (1) That portion of N.W. 54th Street in Miami-Dade County |
| 1979 | between N.W. 2nd Avenue and N.E. N.W. 3rd Avenue in Little Haiti |
| 1980 | is designated "Father Gerard Jean-Juste Street." |
| 1981 | (2) The Department of Transportation is directed to erect |
| 1982 | suitable markers designating Father Gerard Jean-Juste Street as |
| 1983 | described in subsection (1). |
| 1984 | Section 49. Paragraph (a) of subsection (12) of section |
| 1985 | 163.3180, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1986 | 163.3180 Concurrency.- |
| 1987 | (12)(a) A development of regional impact may satisfy the |
| 1988 | transportation concurrency requirements of the local |
| 1989 | comprehensive plan, the local government's concurrency |
| 1990 | management system, and s. 380.06 by payment of a proportionate- |
| 1991 | share contribution for local and regionally significant traffic |
| 1992 | impacts, if: |
| 1993 | 1. The development of regional impact which, based on its |
| 1994 | location or mix of land uses, is designed to encourage |
| 1995 | pedestrian or other nonautomotive modes of transportation; |
| 1996 | 2. The proportionate-share contribution for local and |
| 1997 | regionally significant traffic impacts is sufficient to pay for |
| 1998 | one or more required mobility improvements that will benefit a |
| 1999 | regionally significant transportation facility; |
| 2000 | 3. The owner and developer of the development of regional |
| 2001 | impact pays or assures payment of the proportionate-share |
| 2002 | contribution; and |
| 2003 | 4. If the regionally significant transportation facility |
| 2004 | to be constructed or improved is under the maintenance authority |
| 2005 | of a governmental entity, as defined by s. 334.03(12), other |
| 2006 | than the local government with jurisdiction over the development |
| 2007 | of regional impact, the developer is required to enter into a |
| 2008 | binding and legally enforceable commitment to transfer funds to |
| 2009 | the governmental entity having maintenance authority or to |
| 2010 | otherwise assure construction or improvement of the facility. |
| 2011 |
|
| 2012 | The proportionate-share contribution may be applied to any |
| 2013 | transportation facility to satisfy the provisions of this |
| 2014 | subsection and the local comprehensive plan, but, for the |
| 2015 | purposes of this subsection, the amount of the proportionate- |
| 2016 | share contribution shall be calculated based upon the cumulative |
| 2017 | number of trips from the proposed development expected to reach |
| 2018 | roadways during the peak hour from the complete buildout of a |
| 2019 | stage or phase being approved, divided by the change in the peak |
| 2020 | hour maximum service volume of roadways resulting from |
| 2021 | construction of an improvement necessary to maintain the adopted |
| 2022 | level of service, multiplied by the construction cost, at the |
| 2023 | time of developer payment, of the improvement necessary to |
| 2024 | maintain the adopted level of service. For purposes of this |
| 2025 | subsection, "construction cost" includes all associated costs of |
| 2026 | the improvement. Proportionate-share mitigation shall be limited |
| 2027 | to ensure that a development of regional impact meeting the |
| 2028 | requirements of this subsection mitigates its impact on the |
| 2029 | transportation system but is not responsible for the additional |
| 2030 | cost of reducing or eliminating backlogs. This subsection also |
| 2031 | applies to Florida Quality Developments pursuant to s. 380.061 |
| 2032 | and to detailed specific area plans implementing optional sector |
| 2033 | plans pursuant to s. 163.3245. |
| 2034 | Section 50. Paragraph (k) of subsection (1) of section |
| 2035 | 163.3187, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 2036 | 163.3187 Amendment of adopted comprehensive plan.- |
| 2037 | (1) Amendments to comprehensive plans adopted pursuant to |
| 2038 | this part may be made not more than two times during any |
| 2039 | calendar year, except: |
| 2040 | (k) A local comprehensive plan amendment directly related |
| 2041 | to providing transportation improvements to enhance life safety |
| 2042 | on controlled access major arterial highways identified in the |
| 2043 | Strategic Intermodal System Florida Intrastate Highway System, |
| 2044 | in counties as defined in s. 125.011, where such roadways have a |
| 2045 | high incidence of traffic accidents resulting in serious injury |
| 2046 | or death. Any such amendment shall not include any amendment |
| 2047 | modifying the designation on a comprehensive development plan |
| 2048 | land use map nor any amendment modifying the allowable densities |
| 2049 | or intensities of any land. |
| 2050 | Section 51. Subsection (3) of section 288.063, Florida |
| 2051 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 2052 | 288.063 Contracts for transportation projects.- |
| 2053 | (3) With respect to any contract executed pursuant to this |
| 2054 | section, the term "transportation project" means a |
| 2055 | transportation facility as defined in s. 334.03(31) which is |
| 2056 | necessary in the judgment of the Office of Tourism, Trade, and |
| 2057 | Economic Development to facilitate the economic development and |
| 2058 | growth of the state. Except for applications received prior to |
| 2059 | July 1, 1996, such transportation projects shall be approved |
| 2060 | only as a consideration to attract new employment opportunities |
| 2061 | to the state or expand or retain employment in existing |
| 2062 | companies operating within the state, or to allow for the |
| 2063 | construction or expansion of a state or federal correctional |
| 2064 | facility in a county with a population of 75,000 or less that |
| 2065 | creates new employment opportunities or expands or retains |
| 2066 | employment in the county. The Office of Tourism, Trade, and |
| 2067 | Economic Development shall institute procedures to ensure that |
| 2068 | small and minority businesses have equal access to funding |
| 2069 | provided under this section. Funding for approved transportation |
| 2070 | projects may include any expenses, other than administrative |
| 2071 | costs and equipment purchases specified in the contract, |
| 2072 | necessary for new, or improvement to existing, transportation |
| 2073 | facilities. Funds made available pursuant to this section may |
| 2074 | not be expended in connection with the relocation of a business |
| 2075 | from one community to another community in this state unless the |
| 2076 | Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development determines |
| 2077 | that without such relocation the business will move outside this |
| 2078 | state or determines that the business has a compelling economic |
| 2079 | rationale for the relocation which creates additional jobs. |
| 2080 | Subject to appropriation for projects under this section, any |
| 2081 | appropriation greater than $10 million shall be allocated to |
| 2082 | each of the districts of the Department of Transportation to |
| 2083 | ensure equitable geographical distribution. Such allocated funds |
| 2084 | that remain uncommitted by the third quarter of the fiscal year |
| 2085 | shall be reallocated among the districts based on pending |
| 2086 | project requests. |
| 2087 | Section 52. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section |
| 2088 | 311.07, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 2089 | 311.07 Florida seaport transportation and economic |
| 2090 | development funding.- |
| 2091 | (3) |
| 2092 | (b) Projects eligible for funding by grants under the |
| 2093 | program are limited to the following port facilities or port |
| 2094 | transportation projects: |
| 2095 | 1. Transportation facilities within the jurisdiction of |
| 2096 | the port. |
| 2097 | 2. The dredging or deepening of channels, turning basins, |
| 2098 | or harbors. |
| 2099 | 3. The construction or rehabilitation of wharves, docks, |
| 2100 | structures, jetties, piers, storage facilities, cruise |
| 2101 | terminals, automated people mover systems, or any facilities |
| 2102 | necessary or useful in connection with any of the foregoing. |
| 2103 | 4. The acquisition of vessel tracking systems, container |
| 2104 | cranes, or other mechanized equipment used in the movement of |
| 2105 | cargo or passengers in international commerce. |
| 2106 | 5. The acquisition of land to be used for port purposes. |
| 2107 | 6. The acquisition, improvement, enlargement, or extension |
| 2108 | of existing port facilities. |
| 2109 | 7. Environmental protection projects which are necessary |
| 2110 | because of requirements imposed by a state agency as a condition |
| 2111 | of a permit or other form of state approval; which are necessary |
| 2112 | for environmental mitigation required as a condition of a state, |
| 2113 | federal, or local environmental permit; which are necessary for |
| 2114 | the acquisition of spoil disposal sites and improvements to |
| 2115 | existing and future spoil sites; or which result from the |
| 2116 | funding of eligible projects listed in this paragraph. |
| 2117 | 8. Transportation facilities as defined in s. 334.03(31) |
| 2118 | which are not otherwise part of the Department of |
| 2119 | Transportation's adopted work program. |
| 2120 | 9. Seaport intermodal access projects identified in the 5- |
| 2121 | year Florida Seaport Mission Plan as provided in s. 311.09(3). |
| 2122 | 10. Construction or rehabilitation of port facilities as |
| 2123 | defined in s. 315.02, excluding any park or recreational |
| 2124 | facilities, in ports listed in s. 311.09(1) with operating |
| 2125 | revenues of $5 million or less, provided that such projects |
| 2126 | create economic development opportunities, capital improvements, |
| 2127 | and positive financial returns to such ports. |
| 2128 | Section 53. Subsection (7) of section 311.09, Florida |
| 2129 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 2130 | 311.09 Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic |
| 2131 | Development Council.- |
| 2132 | (7) The Department of Transportation shall review the list |
| 2133 | of projects approved by the council for consistency with the |
| 2134 | Florida Transportation Plan and the department's adopted work |
| 2135 | program. In evaluating the consistency of a project, the |
| 2136 | department shall determine whether the transportation impact of |
| 2137 | the proposed project is adequately handled by existing state- |
| 2138 | owned transportation facilities or by the construction of |
| 2139 | additional state-owned transportation facilities as identified |
| 2140 | in the Florida Transportation Plan and the department's adopted |
| 2141 | work program. In reviewing for consistency a transportation |
| 2142 | facility project as defined in s. 334.03(31) which is not |
| 2143 | otherwise part of the department's work program, the department |
| 2144 | shall evaluate whether the project is needed to provide for |
| 2145 | projected movement of cargo or passengers from the port to a |
| 2146 | state transportation facility or local road. If the project is |
| 2147 | needed to provide for projected movement of cargo or passengers, |
| 2148 | the project shall be approved for consistency as a consideration |
| 2149 | to facilitate the economic development and growth of the state |
| 2150 | in a timely manner. The Department of Transportation shall |
| 2151 | identify those projects which are inconsistent with the Florida |
| 2152 | Transportation Plan and the adopted work program and shall |
| 2153 | notify the council of projects found to be inconsistent. |
| 2154 | Section 54. Section 316.2122, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 2155 | to read: |
| 2156 | 316.2122 Operation of a low-speed vehicle or mini truck on |
| 2157 | certain roadways.-The operation of a low-speed vehicle as |
| 2158 | defined in s. 320.01(42) or a mini truck as defined in s. |
| 2159 | 320.01(45) on any road as defined in s. 334.03(15) or (33) is |
| 2160 | authorized with the following restrictions: |
| 2161 | (1) A low-speed vehicle or mini truck may be operated only |
| 2162 | on streets where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or |
| 2163 | less. This does not prohibit a low-speed vehicle or mini truck |
| 2164 | from crossing a road or street at an intersection where the road |
| 2165 | or street has a posted speed limit of more than 35 miles per |
| 2166 | hour. |
| 2167 | (2) A low-speed vehicle must be equipped with headlamps, |
| 2168 | stop lamps, turn signal lamps, taillamps, reflex reflectors, |
| 2169 | parking brakes, rearview mirrors, windshields, seat belts, and |
| 2170 | vehicle identification numbers. |
| 2171 | (3) A low-speed vehicle or mini truck must be registered |
| 2172 | and insured in accordance with s. 320.02 and titled pursuant to |
| 2173 | chapter 319. |
| 2174 | (4) Any person operating a low-speed vehicle or mini truck |
| 2175 | must have in his or her possession a valid driver's license. |
| 2176 | (5) A county or municipality may prohibit the operation of |
| 2177 | low-speed vehicles or mini trucks on any road under its |
| 2178 | jurisdiction if the governing body of the county or municipality |
| 2179 | determines that such prohibition is necessary in the interest of |
| 2180 | safety. |
| 2181 | (6) The Department of Transportation may prohibit the |
| 2182 | operation of low-speed vehicles or mini trucks on any road under |
| 2183 | its jurisdiction if it determines that such prohibition is |
| 2184 | necessary in the interest of safety. |
| 2185 | Section 55. Paragraph (c) of subsection (5) of section |
| 2186 | 316.515, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 2187 | 316.515 Maximum width, height, length.- |
| 2188 | (5) IMPLEMENTS OF HUSBANDRY AND FARM EQUIPMENT; |
| 2189 | AGRICULTURAL TRAILERS; FORESTRY EQUIPMENT; SAFETY REQUIREMENTS.- |
| 2190 | (c) The width and height limitations of this section do |
| 2191 | not apply to farming or agricultural equipment, whether self- |
| 2192 | propelled, pulled, or hauled, when temporarily operated during |
| 2193 | daylight hours upon a public road that is not a limited access |
| 2194 | facility as defined in s. 334.03(13), and the width and height |
| 2195 | limitations may be exceeded by such equipment without a permit. |
| 2196 | To be eligible for this exemption, the equipment shall be |
| 2197 | operated within a radius of 50 miles of the real property owned, |
| 2198 | rented, or leased by the equipment owner. However, equipment |
| 2199 | being delivered by a dealer to a purchaser is not subject to the |
| 2200 | 50-mile limitation. Farming or agricultural equipment greater |
| 2201 | than 174 inches in width must have one warning lamp mounted on |
| 2202 | each side of the equipment to denote the width and must have a |
| 2203 | slow-moving vehicle sign. Warning lamps required by this |
| 2204 | paragraph must be visible from the front and rear of the vehicle |
| 2205 | and must be visible from a distance of at least 1,000 feet. |
| 2206 | Section 56. Section 318.12, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 2207 | to read: |
| 2208 | 318.12 Purpose.-It is the legislative intent in the |
| 2209 | adoption of this chapter to decriminalize certain violations of |
| 2210 | chapter 316, the Florida Uniform Traffic Control Law; chapter |
| 2211 | 320, Motor Vehicle Licenses; chapter 322, Drivers' Licenses; |
| 2212 | chapter 338, Limited Access Florida Intrastate Highway System |
| 2213 | and Toll Facilities; and chapter 1006, Support of Learning, |
| 2214 | thereby facilitating the implementation of a more uniform and |
| 2215 | expeditious system for the disposition of traffic infractions. |
| 2216 | Section 57. Subsection (3) of section 335.02, Florida |
| 2217 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 2218 | 335.02 Authority to designate transportation facilities |
| 2219 | and rights-of-way and establish lanes; procedure for |
| 2220 | redesignation and relocation; application of local regulations.- |
| 2221 | (3) The department may establish standards for lanes on |
| 2222 | the State Highway System, including the Strategic Intermodal |
| 2223 | System highway corridors Florida Intrastate Highway System |
| 2224 | established pursuant to s. 339.65 338.001. In determining the |
| 2225 | number of lanes for any regional corridor or section of highway |
| 2226 | on the State Highway System to be funded by the department with |
| 2227 | state or federal funds, the department shall evaluate all |
| 2228 | alternatives and seek to achieve the highest degree of efficient |
| 2229 | mobility for corridor users. In conducting the analysis, the |
| 2230 | department must give consideration to the following factors |
| 2231 | consistent with sound engineering principles: |
| 2232 | (a) Overall economic importance of the corridor as a trade |
| 2233 | or tourism corridor. |
| 2234 | (b) Safety of corridor users, including the importance of |
| 2235 | the corridor for evacuation purposes. |
| 2236 | (c) Cost-effectiveness of alternative methods of |
| 2237 | increasing the mobility of corridor users. |
| 2238 | (d) Current and projected traffic volumes on the corridor. |
| 2239 | (e) Multimodal alternatives. |
| 2240 | (f) Use of intelligent transportation technology in |
| 2241 | increasing the efficiency of the corridor. |
| 2242 | (g) Compliance with state and federal policies related to |
| 2243 | clean air, environmental impacts, growth management, livable |
| 2244 | communities, and energy conservation. |
| 2245 | (h) Addition of special use lanes, such as exclusive truck |
| 2246 | lanes, high-occupancy-vehicle toll lanes, and exclusive |
| 2247 | interregional traffic lanes. |
| 2248 | (i) Availability and cost of rights-of-way, including |
| 2249 | associated costs, and the most effective use of existing rights- |
| 2250 | of-way. |
| 2251 | (j) Regional economic and transportation objectives, where |
| 2252 | articulated. |
| 2253 | (k) The future land use plan element of local government |
| 2254 | comprehensive plans, as appropriate, including designated urban |
| 2255 | infill and redevelopment areas. |
| 2256 | (l) The traffic circulation element, if applicable, of |
| 2257 | local government comprehensive plans, including designated |
| 2258 | transportation corridors and public transportation corridors. |
| 2259 | (m) The approved metropolitan planning organization's |
| 2260 | long-range transportation plan, as appropriate. |
| 2261 |
|
| 2262 | This subsection does not preclude a number of lanes in excess of |
| 2263 | 10 lanes, but an additional factor that must be considered |
| 2264 | before the department may determine that the number of lanes |
| 2265 | should be more than 10 is the capacity to accommodate in the |
| 2266 | future alternative forms of transportation within existing or |
| 2267 | potential rights-of-way. |
| 2268 | Section 58. Section 336.01, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 2269 | to read: |
| 2270 | 336.01 Designation of county road system.-The county road |
| 2271 | system shall be as defined in s. 334.03(8). |
| 2272 | Section 59. Subsection (2) of section 338.222, Florida |
| 2273 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 2274 | 338.222 Department of Transportation sole governmental |
| 2275 | entity to acquire, construct, or operate turnpike projects; |
| 2276 | exception.- |
| 2277 | (2) The department may contract with any local |
| 2278 | governmental entity as defined in s. 334.03(13)(14) for the |
| 2279 | design, right-of-way acquisition, or construction of any |
| 2280 | turnpike project which the Legislature has approved. Local |
| 2281 | governmental entities may negotiate with the department for the |
| 2282 | design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction of any |
| 2283 | section of the turnpike project within areas of their respective |
| 2284 | jurisdictions or within counties with which they have interlocal |
| 2285 | agreements. |
| 2286 | Section 60. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section |
| 2287 | 338.223, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 2288 | 338.223 Proposed turnpike projects.- |
| 2289 | (1) |
| 2290 | (b) Any proposed turnpike project or improvement shall be |
| 2291 | developed in accordance with the Florida Transportation Plan and |
| 2292 | the work program pursuant to s. 339.135. Turnpike projects that |
| 2293 | add capacity, alter access, affect feeder roads, or affect the |
| 2294 | operation of the local transportation system shall be included |
| 2295 | in the transportation improvement plan of the affected |
| 2296 | metropolitan planning organization. If such turnpike project |
| 2297 | does not fall within the jurisdiction of a metropolitan planning |
| 2298 | organization, the department shall notify the affected county |
| 2299 | and provide for public hearings in accordance with s. |
| 2300 | 339.155(5)(6)(c). |
| 2301 | Section 61. Subsection (4) of section 338.227, Florida |
| 2302 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 2303 | 338.227 Turnpike revenue bonds.- |
| 2304 | (4) The Department of Transportation and the Department of |
| 2305 | Management Services shall create and implement an outreach |
| 2306 | program designed to enhance the participation of minority |
| 2307 | persons and minority business enterprises in all contracts |
| 2308 | entered into by their respective departments for services |
| 2309 | related to the financing of department projects for the |
| 2310 | Strategic Intermodal System Plan developed pursuant to s. 339.64 |
| 2311 | Florida Intrastate Highway System Plan. These services shall |
| 2312 | include, but not be limited to, bond counsel and bond |
| 2313 | underwriters. |
| 2314 | Section 62. Subsection (2) of section 338.2275, Florida |
| 2315 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 2316 | 338.2275 Approved turnpike projects.- |
| 2317 | (2) The department is authorized to use turnpike revenues, |
| 2318 | the State Transportation Trust Fund moneys allocated for |
| 2319 | turnpike projects pursuant to s. 339.65 s. 338.001, federal |
| 2320 | funds, and bond proceeds, and shall use the most cost-efficient |
| 2321 | combination of such funds, in developing a financial plan for |
| 2322 | funding turnpike projects. The department must submit a report |
| 2323 | of the estimated cost for each ongoing turnpike project and for |
| 2324 | each planned project to the Legislature 14 days before the |
| 2325 | convening of the regular legislative session. Verification of |
| 2326 | economic feasibility and statements of environmental feasibility |
| 2327 | for individual turnpike projects must be based on the entire |
| 2328 | project as approved. Statements of environmental feasibility are |
| 2329 | not required for those projects listed in s. 12, chapter 90-136, |
| 2330 | Laws of Florida, for which the Project Development and |
| 2331 | Environmental Reports were completed by July 1, 1990. All |
| 2332 | required environmental permits must be obtained before the |
| 2333 | department may advertise for bids for contracts for the |
| 2334 | construction of any turnpike project. |
| 2335 | Section 63. Section 338.228, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 2336 | to read: |
| 2337 | 338.228 Bonds not debts or pledges of credit of state.- |
| 2338 | Turnpike revenue bonds issued under the provisions of ss. |
| 2339 | 338.22-338.241 are not debts of the state or pledges of the |
| 2340 | faith and credit of the state. Such bonds are payable |
| 2341 | exclusively from revenues pledged for their payment. All such |
| 2342 | bonds shall contain a statement on their face that the state is |
| 2343 | not obligated to pay the same or the interest thereon, except |
| 2344 | from the revenues pledged for their payment, and that the faith |
| 2345 | and credit of the state is not pledged to the payment of the |
| 2346 | principal or interest of such bonds. The issuance of turnpike |
| 2347 | revenue bonds under the provisions of ss. 338.22-338.241 does |
| 2348 | not directly, indirectly, or contingently obligate the state to |
| 2349 | levy or to pledge any form of taxation whatsoever, or to make |
| 2350 | any appropriation for their payment. Except as provided in ss. |
| 2351 | 338.001, 338.223, and 338.2275, and 339.65, no state funds shall |
| 2352 | be used on any turnpike project or to pay the principal or |
| 2353 | interest of any bonds issued to finance or refinance any portion |
| 2354 | of the turnpike system, and all such bonds shall contain a |
| 2355 | statement on their face to this effect. |
| 2356 | Section 64. Subsection (2) of section 338.234, Florida |
| 2357 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 2358 | 338.234 Granting concessions or selling along the turnpike |
| 2359 | system; immunity from taxation.- |
| 2360 | (2) The effectuation of the authorized purposes of the |
| 2361 | Strategic Intermodal System, created under ss. 339.61-339.65, |
| 2362 | Florida Intrastate Highway System and Florida Turnpike |
| 2363 | Enterprise, created under this chapter, is for the benefit of |
| 2364 | the people of the state, for the increase of their commerce and |
| 2365 | prosperity, and for the improvement of their health and living |
| 2366 | conditions; and, because the system and enterprise perform |
| 2367 | essential government functions in effectuating such purposes, |
| 2368 | neither the turnpike enterprise nor any nongovernment lessee or |
| 2369 | licensee renting, leasing, or licensing real property from the |
| 2370 | turnpike enterprise, pursuant to an agreement authorized by this |
| 2371 | section, are required to pay any commercial rental tax imposed |
| 2372 | under s. 212.031 on any capital improvements constructed, |
| 2373 | improved, acquired, installed, or used for such purposes. |
| 2374 | Section 65. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 339.2819, |
| 2375 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 2376 | 339.2819 Transportation Regional Incentive Program.- |
| 2377 | (1) There is created within the Department of |
| 2378 | Transportation a Transportation Regional Incentive Program for |
| 2379 | the purpose of providing funds to improve regionally significant |
| 2380 | transportation facilities in regional transportation areas |
| 2381 | created pursuant to s. 339.155(4)(5). |
| 2382 | (3) The department shall allocate funding available for |
| 2383 | the Transportation Regional Incentive Program to the districts |
| 2384 | based on a factor derived from equal parts of population and |
| 2385 | motor fuel collections for eligible counties in regional |
| 2386 | transportation areas created pursuant to s. 339.155(4)(5). |
| 2387 | Section 66. Subsection (6) of section 339.285, Florida |
| 2388 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 2389 | 339.285 Enhanced Bridge Program for Sustainable |
| 2390 | Transportation.- |
| 2391 | (6) Preference shall be given to bridge projects located |
| 2392 | on corridors that connect to the Strategic Intermodal System, |
| 2393 | created under s. 339.64, and that have been identified as |
| 2394 | regionally significant in accordance with s. 339.155(4)(5)(c), |
| 2395 | (d), and (e). |
| 2396 | Section 67. Section 339.62, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 2397 | to read: |
| 2398 | 339.62 System components.-The Strategic Intermodal System |
| 2399 | shall consist of appropriate components of: |
| 2400 | (1) Highway corridors The Florida Intrastate Highway |
| 2401 | System established under s. 339.65 s. 338.001. |
| 2402 | (2) The National Highway System. |
| 2403 | (3) Airport, seaport, and spaceport facilities. |
| 2404 | (4) Rail lines and rail facilities. |
| 2405 | (5) Selected intermodal facilities; passenger and freight |
| 2406 | terminals; and appropriate components of the State Highway |
| 2407 | System, county road system, city street system, inland |
| 2408 | waterways, and local public transit systems that serve as |
| 2409 | existing or planned connectors between the components listed in |
| 2410 | subsections (1)-(4). |
| 2411 | (6) Other existing or planned corridors that serve a |
| 2412 | statewide or interregional purpose. |
| 2413 | Section 68. Subsection (2) of section 341.053, Florida |
| 2414 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 2415 | 341.053 Intermodal Development Program; administration; |
| 2416 | eligible projects; limitations.- |
| 2417 | (2) In recognition of the department's role in the |
| 2418 | economic development of this state, the department shall develop |
| 2419 | a proposed intermodal development plan to connect Florida's |
| 2420 | airports, deepwater seaports, rail systems serving both |
| 2421 | passenger and freight, and major intermodal connectors to the |
| 2422 | Strategic Intermodal System highway corridors Florida Intrastate |
| 2423 | Highway System facilities as the primary system for the movement |
| 2424 | of people and freight in this state in order to make the |
| 2425 | intermodal development plan a fully integrated and |
| 2426 | interconnected system. The intermodal development plan must: |
| 2427 | (a) Define and assess the state's freight intermodal |
| 2428 | network, including airports, seaports, rail lines and terminals, |
| 2429 | intercity bus lines and terminals, and connecting highways. |
| 2430 | (b) Prioritize statewide infrastructure investments, |
| 2431 | including the acceleration of current projects, which are found |
| 2432 | by the Freight Stakeholders Task Force to be priority projects |
| 2433 | for the efficient movement of people and freight. |
| 2434 | (c) Be developed in a manner that will assure maximum use |
| 2435 | of existing facilities and optimum integration and coordination |
| 2436 | of the various modes of transportation, including both |
| 2437 | government-owned and privately owned resources, in the most |
| 2438 | cost-effective manner possible. |
| 2439 | Section 69. Subsection (2) of section 341.8225, Florida |
| 2440 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 2441 | 341.8225 Department of Transportation sole governmental |
| 2442 | entity to acquire, construct, or operate high-speed rail |
| 2443 | projects; exception.- |
| 2444 | (2) Local governmental entities, as defined in s. |
| 2445 | 334.03(13)(14), may negotiate with the department for the |
| 2446 | design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction of any |
| 2447 | component of the high-speed rail system within areas of their |
| 2448 | respective jurisdictions or within counties with which they have |
| 2449 | interlocal agreements. |
| 2450 | Section 70. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section |
| 2451 | 403.7211, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 2452 | 403.7211 Hazardous waste facilities managing hazardous |
| 2453 | wastes generated offsite; federal facilities managing hazardous |
| 2454 | waste.- |
| 2455 | (2) The department shall not issue any permit under s. |
| 2456 | 403.722 for the construction, initial operation, or substantial |
| 2457 | modification of a facility for the disposal, storage, or |
| 2458 | treatment of hazardous waste generated offsite which is proposed |
| 2459 | to be located in any of the following locations: |
| 2460 | (a) Any area where life-threatening concentrations of |
| 2461 | hazardous substances could accumulate at any residence or |
| 2462 | residential subdivision as the result of a catastrophic event at |
| 2463 | the proposed facility, unless each such residence or residential |
| 2464 | subdivision is served by at least one arterial road or urban |
| 2465 | minor arterial road, as determined under the procedures |
| 2466 | referenced in s. 334.03(9) defined in s. 334.03, which provides |
| 2467 | safe and direct egress by land to an area where such life- |
| 2468 | threatening concentrations of hazardous substances could not |
| 2469 | accumulate in a catastrophic event. Egress by any road leading |
| 2470 | from any residence or residential subdivision to any point |
| 2471 | located within 1,000 yards of the proposed facility is unsafe |
| 2472 | for the purposes of this paragraph. In determining whether |
| 2473 | egress proposed by the applicant is safe and direct, the |
| 2474 | department shall also consider, at a minimum, the following |
| 2475 | factors: |
| 2476 | 1. Natural barriers such as water bodies, and whether any |
| 2477 | road in the proposed evacuation route is impaired by a natural |
| 2478 | barrier such as a water body; |
| 2479 | 2. Potential exposure during egress and potential |
| 2480 | increases in the duration of exposure; |
| 2481 | 3. Whether any road in a proposed evacuation route passes |
| 2482 | in close proximity to the facility; and |
| 2483 | 4. Whether any portion of the evacuation route is |
| 2484 | inherently directed toward the facility. |
| 2485 |
|
| 2486 | For the purposes of this subsection, all distances shall be |
| 2487 | measured from the outer limit of the active hazardous waste |
| 2488 | management area. "Substantial modification" includes: any |
| 2489 | physical change in, change in the operations of, or addition to |
| 2490 | a facility which could increase the potential offsite impact, or |
| 2491 | risk of impact, from a release at that facility; and any change |
| 2492 | in permit conditions which is reasonably expected to lead to |
| 2493 | greater potential impacts or risks of impacts, from a release at |
| 2494 | that facility. "Substantial modification" does not include a |
| 2495 | change in operations, structures, or permit conditions which |
| 2496 | does not substantially increase either the potential impact |
| 2497 | from, or the risk of, a release. Physical or operational changes |
| 2498 | to a facility related solely to the management of nonhazardous |
| 2499 | waste at the facility shall not be considered a substantial |
| 2500 | modification. The department shall, by rule, adopt criteria to |
| 2501 | determine whether a facility has been substantially modified. |
| 2502 | "Initial operation" means the initial commencement of operations |
| 2503 | at the facility. |
| 2504 | Section 71. Subsection (27) of section 479.01, Florida |
| 2505 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 2506 | 479.01 Definitions.-As used in this chapter, the term: |
| 2507 | (27) "Urban area" has the same meaning as defined in s. |
| 2508 | 334.03(29). |
| 2509 | Section 72. Subsection (1) of section 479.07, Florida |
| 2510 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 2511 | 479.07 Sign permits.- |
| 2512 | (1) Except as provided in ss. 479.105(1)(e) and 479.16, a |
| 2513 | person may not erect, operate, use, or maintain, or cause to be |
| 2514 | erected, operated, used, or maintained, any sign on the State |
| 2515 | Highway System outside an urban area, as defined in s. |
| 2516 | 334.03(32), or on any portion of the interstate or federal-aid |
| 2517 | primary highway system without first obtaining a permit for the |
| 2518 | sign from the department and paying the annual fee as provided |
| 2519 | in this section. As used in this section, the term "on any |
| 2520 | portion of the State Highway System, interstate, or federal-aid |
| 2521 | primary system" means a sign located within the controlled area |
| 2522 | which is visible from any portion of the main-traveled way of |
| 2523 | such system. |
| 2524 | Section 73. Subsection (5) of section 479.261, Florida |
| 2525 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 2526 | 479.261 Logo sign program.- |
| 2527 | (5) At a minimum, permit fees for businesses that |
| 2528 | participate in the program must be established in an amount |
| 2529 | sufficient to offset the total cost to the department for the |
| 2530 | program, including contract costs. The department shall provide |
| 2531 | the services in the most efficient and cost-effective manner |
| 2532 | through department staff or by contracting for some or all of |
| 2533 | the services. The department shall adopt rules that set |
| 2534 | reasonable rates based upon factors such as population, traffic |
| 2535 | volume, market demand, and costs for annual permit fees. |
| 2536 | However, annual permit fees for sign locations inside an urban |
| 2537 | area, as defined in s. 334.03(32), may not exceed $3,500, and |
| 2538 | annual permit fees for sign locations outside an urban area, as |
| 2539 | defined in s. 334.03(32), may not exceed $2,000. After |
| 2540 | recovering program costs, the proceeds from the annual permit |
| 2541 | fees shall be deposited into the State Transportation Trust Fund |
| 2542 | and used for transportation purposes. |
| 2543 | Section 74. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section |
| 2544 | 20.23, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 2545 | 20.23 Department of Transportation.-There is created a |
| 2546 | Department of Transportation which shall be a decentralized |
| 2547 | agency. |
| 2548 | (3) There is created the Florida Statewide Passenger Rail |
| 2549 | Commission. |
| 2550 | (b) The commission shall have the primary and exclusive |
| 2551 | functions of: |
| 2552 | 1. Monitoring the efficiency, productivity, and management |
| 2553 | of all publicly funded passenger rail systems in the state, |
| 2554 | including, but not limited to, any authority created under |
| 2555 | chapter 343, chapter 349, or chapter 163 if the authority |
| 2556 | receives public funds for providing the provision of passenger |
| 2557 | rail service. The commission shall advise each monitored |
| 2558 | authority of its findings and recommendations. The commission |
| 2559 | shall also conduct periodic reviews of each monitored |
| 2560 | authority's passenger rail and associated transit operations and |
| 2561 | budget, acquisition of property, management of revenue and bond |
| 2562 | proceeds, and compliance with applicable laws and generally |
| 2563 | accepted accounting principles. The commission may seek the |
| 2564 | assistance of the Florida Transportation Commission Auditor |
| 2565 | General in conducting such reviews and shall report the findings |
| 2566 | of such reviews to the Legislature. This paragraph does not |
| 2567 | preclude the Florida Transportation Commission from conducting |
| 2568 | its performance and work program monitoring responsibilities. |
| 2569 | 2. Advising the department on policies and strategies used |
| 2570 | in planning, designing, building, operating, financing, and |
| 2571 | maintaining a coordinated statewide system of passenger rail |
| 2572 | services. |
| 2573 | 3. Evaluating passenger rail policies and providing advice |
| 2574 | and recommendations to the Legislature on passenger rail |
| 2575 | operations in the state. |
| 2576 | Section 75. Subsection (13) is added to section 311.09, |
| 2577 | Florida Statutes, to read: |
| 2578 | 311.09 Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic |
| 2579 | Development Council.- |
| 2580 | (13) Until July 1, 2014, Citrus County may apply for a |
| 2581 | grant through the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic |
| 2582 | Development Council to perform a feasibility study regarding the |
| 2583 | establishment of a port in Citrus County. The council shall |
| 2584 | evaluate such application in accordance with subsections (5)-(9) |
| 2585 | and, if approved, the Department of Transportation shall include |
| 2586 | the feasibility study in its budget request pursuant to |
| 2587 | subsection (10). |
| 2588 | Section 76. Paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section |
| 2589 | 212.055, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 2590 | 212.055 Discretionary sales surtaxes; legislative intent; |
| 2591 | authorization and use of proceeds.-It is the legislative intent |
| 2592 | that any authorization for imposition of a discretionary sales |
| 2593 | surtax shall be published in the Florida Statutes as a |
| 2594 | subsection of this section, irrespective of the duration of the |
| 2595 | levy. Each enactment shall specify the types of counties |
| 2596 | authorized to levy; the rate or rates which may be imposed; the |
| 2597 | maximum length of time the surtax may be imposed, if any; the |
| 2598 | procedure which must be followed to secure voter approval, if |
| 2599 | required; the purpose for which the proceeds may be expended; |
| 2600 | and such other requirements as the Legislature may provide. |
| 2601 | Taxable transactions and administrative procedures shall be as |
| 2602 | provided in s. 212.054. |
| 2603 | (1) CHARTER COUNTY AND REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM |
| 2604 | SURTAX.- |
| 2605 | (d) Proceeds from the surtax shall be applied to as many |
| 2606 | or as few of the uses enumerated below in whatever combination |
| 2607 | the county commission deems appropriate: |
| 2608 | 1. Deposited by the county in the trust fund and shall be |
| 2609 | used for the purposes of development, construction, equipment, |
| 2610 | maintenance, operation, supportive services, including a |
| 2611 | countywide bus system, on-demand transportation services, and |
| 2612 | related costs of a fixed guideway rapid transit system; |
| 2613 | 2. Remitted by the governing body of the county to an |
| 2614 | expressway, transit, or transportation authority created by law |
| 2615 | to be used, at the discretion of such authority, for the |
| 2616 | development, construction, operation, or maintenance of roads or |
| 2617 | bridges in the county, for the operation and maintenance of a |
| 2618 | bus system, for the operation and maintenance of on-demand |
| 2619 | transportation services, for the payment of principal and |
| 2620 | interest on existing bonds issued for the construction of such |
| 2621 | roads or bridges, and, upon approval by the county commission, |
| 2622 | such proceeds may be pledged for bonds issued to refinance |
| 2623 | existing bonds or new bonds issued for the construction of such |
| 2624 | roads or bridges; |
| 2625 | 3. Used by the county for the development, construction, |
| 2626 | operation, and maintenance of roads and bridges in the county; |
| 2627 | for the expansion, operation, and maintenance of bus and fixed |
| 2628 | guideway systems; for the expansion, operation, and maintenance |
| 2629 | of on-demand transportation services; and for the payment of |
| 2630 | principal and interest on bonds issued for the construction of |
| 2631 | fixed guideway rapid transit systems, bus systems, roads, or |
| 2632 | bridges; and such proceeds may be pledged by the governing body |
| 2633 | of the county for bonds issued to refinance existing bonds or |
| 2634 | new bonds issued for the construction of such fixed guideway |
| 2635 | rapid transit systems, bus systems, roads, or bridges and no |
| 2636 | more than 25 percent used for nontransit uses; and |
| 2637 | 4. Used by the county for the planning, development, |
| 2638 | construction, operation, and maintenance of roads and bridges in |
| 2639 | the county; for the planning, development, expansion, operation, |
| 2640 | and maintenance of bus and fixed guideway systems; for the |
| 2641 | planning, development, construction, operation, and maintenance |
| 2642 | of on-demand transportation services; and for the payment of |
| 2643 | principal and interest on bonds issued for the construction of |
| 2644 | fixed guideway rapid transit systems, bus systems, roads, or |
| 2645 | bridges; and such proceeds may be pledged by the governing body |
| 2646 | of the county for bonds issued to refinance existing bonds or |
| 2647 | new bonds issued for the construction of such fixed guideway |
| 2648 | rapid transit systems, bus systems, roads, or bridges. Pursuant |
| 2649 | to an interlocal agreement entered into pursuant to chapter 163, |
| 2650 | the governing body of the county may distribute proceeds from |
| 2651 | the tax to a municipality, or an expressway or transportation |
| 2652 | authority created by law to be expended for the purpose |
| 2653 | authorized by this paragraph. Any county that has entered into |
| 2654 | interlocal agreements for distribution of proceeds to one or |
| 2655 | more municipalities in the county shall revise such interlocal |
| 2656 | agreements as necessary for the sole purpose of including no |
| 2657 | less than every 5 years in order to include any municipalities |
| 2658 | that have been created during the immediately preceding year, |
| 2659 | provided that any funds distributed to a new municipality must |
| 2660 | come from funds otherwise retained and used by the charter |
| 2661 | county, must be on a pro rata basis with the allocation of funds |
| 2662 | to the previously existing municipalities, and must not reduce |
| 2663 | the percentage allocation to the previously existing |
| 2664 | municipalities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the first |
| 2665 | revision of interlocal agreements pursuant to this subparagraph |
| 2666 | shall include any municipality that has been created since the |
| 2667 | surtax was adopted by the charter county. Any charter county |
| 2668 | that seeks to terminate or substantially modify the distribution |
| 2669 | of funds to municipalities may do so only pursuant to approval |
| 2670 | by a majority vote of the electorate of the county since the |
| 2671 | prior interlocal agreements were executed. |
| 2672 | Section 77. Subsection (5) of section 316.613, Florida |
| 2673 | Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (6) and a new subsection |
| 2674 | (5) is added to that section to read: |
| 2675 | 316.613 Child restraint requirements.- |
| 2676 | (5) The child restraint requirements imposed by this |
| 2677 | section do not apply to a chauffeur-driven taxi, limousine, |
| 2678 | sedan, van, bus, motor coach, or other passenger vehicle if the |
| 2679 | operator and the motor vehicle are hired and used for the |
| 2680 | transportation of persons for compensation. It is the obligation |
| 2681 | and responsibility of the parent, guardian, or other person |
| 2682 | responsible for a child's welfare, as defined in s. 39.01(47), |
| 2683 | to comply with the requirements of this section. |
| 2684 | Section 78. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this |
| 2685 | act and except for this section, which shall take effect upon |
| 2686 | this act becoming a law, this act shall take effect July 1, |
| 2687 | 2011. |